Aqueous cosmetic composition comprising alkylcellulose, non-volatile oils, at least one wax and at least one gemini surfactant

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition comprising, in a physiologically acceptable medium: —at least water, —at least alkylcellulose, —at least one first hydrocarbon-based non-volatile oil, chosen from: —C10-C26 alcohols, preferably monoalcohols; —optionally hydroxylated monoesters, diesters or triesters of a C2-C8 monocarboxylic or polycarboxylic acid and of a C2-C8 alcohol; —esters of a C2-C8 polyol and of one or more C2-C8 carboxylic acids, at least one second non-volatile oil chosen from silicone oils and/or fluoro oils or hydrocarbon-based oils other than the said first oil; at least one particular wax; at least one gemini surfactant of particular formula (I).

The present invention is directed towards proposing cosmetic compositions comprising alkylcellulose, which are intended in particular for making up and/or caring for the lips or the skin, especially the lips, which are capable of producing a deposit, especially a makeup deposit, which shows good cosmetic properties, especially in terms of comfort, absence of tack and gloss.

In general, cosmetic compositions need to afford an aesthetic effect when applied to the skin and/or the lips, and to maintain this aesthetic effect over time.

Specifically, the production of an aesthetic effect, after applying a cosmetic composition, results from an assembly of properties intrinsic to the composition which are expressed in terms of makeup performance, cosmetic properties such as comfort on application (softness of the composition, ease of application, glidance on application) and while wearing the composition (softness of the deposit), satisfactory homogeneity, lightness and gloss of the deposit produced with the composition.

In particular, the production of a solid composition, for example in stick form, which is hard enough not to break during application while at the same time being easily eroded on application, and which is homogeneous and stable over time at room temperature and at 45° C., and whose deposit on the skin or the lips is light and sufficiently glossy, is an ongoing preoccupation of formulators working in the field of lipsticks and other skincare and/or lipcare products (for instance balms).

Ethylcellulose is already known in cosmetic and/or therapeutic compositions, as a film-forming agent, for facilitating the formation of a film on the skin and/or the lips, and for improving the water resistance of this film.

Unfortunately, ethylcellulose, and alkylcelluloses in general (with an alkyl group comprising from 1 to 6 carbon atoms), is of limited solubility in the majority of the solvents commonly used in cosmetic and/or dermatological formulations. In general, monoalcohols containing from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, such as ethanol, butanol, methanol or isopropanol, are preferred for dissolving sufficient amounts of ethylcellulose in cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions. Evaporation of the C₂-C₈ monoalcohols leads, after application of the corresponding cosmetic composition to the skin or the lips, firstly to concentration of the deposit and secondly to the formation of a coat on the surface of the skin or the lips that has a very good wear property. For example, document WO 96/36310 proposes cosmetic compositions especially comprising ethylcellulose dissolved in ethyl alcohol (SDA 38B-190 or SDA 40B-190 solvents).

However, these volatile monoalcohols have the drawback of being potentially irritant to the skin and/or the lips, and consequently may prove to be detrimental in the case of repeated use on the skin.

In order to overcome this problem, it has been proposed in document U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,631 to use, as an alternative to C₂-C₈ monoalcohols, a certain number of solvents for ethylcellulose, such as lanolin oil, certain triglycerides, certain propylene glycol or neopentyl glycol esters, isostearyl lactate, and mixtures thereof.

Unfortunately, replacing these C₂-C₈ monoalcohols, which are volatile compounds, with these non-volatile solvents may on the other hand prove to be detrimental in terms of comfort and of tackiness of the resulting deposit.

Consequently, there is still a need for cosmetic compositions, which are free of C₂-C₈ monoalcohols, comprising a sufficient amount of alkylcellulose, and which are capable of forming on the skin and/or the lips a deposit that has gloss and comfort properties and that is not tacky.

There is more particularly a need for compositions for making up and/or caring for the skin and/or the lips, which are homogeneous and stable over time (especially for 72 hours at 24° C. and for 72 hours at 45° C.), in particular which do not undergo phase separation and which do not form grains, which are easy to apply and which allow the production of a soft, light, fresh, uniform, non-migrating deposit which, in particular, is sparingly tacky or non-tacky and satisfactorily glossy and which, in certain embodiments, has satisfactory wear properties.

One aim of the invention is to propose a composition whose texture is homogeneous, and in particular which does not have any lumps and which is stable at 24° C. and at 45° C.

The object of the present invention is, precisely, to satisfy these needs.

As emerges from the examples presented below, the inventors have discovered that the abovementioned expectations can be satisfied by formulating the alkylcellulose in the form of a dispersion in water with a mixture of specific oils other than C₂-C₈ monoalcohols.

Thus, according to a first of its aspects, a subject of the present invention is a cosmetic composition comprising, in a physiologically acceptable medium:

at least water, preferably at least 5% by weight of water;

at least alkylcellulose, the alkyl residue of which comprises between 1 and 6 carbon atoms, preferably between 2 and 6 carbon atoms and preferably between 2 and 3 carbon atoms, preferably ethylcellulose, preferably at least 5% of ethylcellulose;

at least one first hydrocarbon-based non-volatile oil, chosen from:

-   -   C₁₀-C₂₆ alcohols, preferably monoalcohols;     -   optionally hydroxylated monoesters, diesters or triesters of a         C₂-C₈ monocarboxylic or polycarboxylic acid and of a C₂-C₈         alcohol;     -   esters of a C₂-C₈ polyol and of one or more C₂-C₈ carboxylic         acids,     -   at least one second non-volatile oil chosen from silicone oils         and/or fluoro oils or hydrocarbon-based oils other than the said         first oil;     -   at least one wax;     -   at least one gemini surfactant of formula (I):

in which:

-   -   R₁ and R₃ denote, independently of one another, an alkyl radical         containing from 1 to 25 carbon atoms;     -   R₂ denotes a spacer consisting of a linear or branched alkylene         chain containing from 1 to 12 carbon atoms;     -   X and Y denote, independently of each other, a group         —(C₂H₄O)_(a)—(C₃H₆O)_(b)Z, where:         -   Z denotes a hydrogen atom or a radical —CH₂—COOM, —SO₃M,             —P(O)(OM)₂, —C₂H₄—SO₃M, —C₃H₆—SO₃M or —CH₂(CHOH)₄CH₂OH,             where M represents H or an alkali metal or alkaline-earth             metal or ammonium or alkanolammonium ion,         -   a ranges from 0 to 15,         -   b ranges from 0 to 10, and         -   the sum of a+b ranges from 1 to 25; and     -   n ranges from 1 to 10.

Advantageously, a cosmetic composition according to the invention is homogeneous, stable (no exudation or phase separation) over time (especially after 72 hours or even 1 month at 24° C. and at 45° C.), easy to apply to the skin and/or the lips, and produces a uniform, soft, fresh deposit that is non-migrating and non-tacky or sparingly tacky, and satisfactorily glossy.

Preferably, the composition is a composition for making up and/or caring for the skin and/or the lips. According to a preferred embodiment, the composition is a lip product. More preferably, the composition according to the invention is in the form of a lipstick or a lip balm, preferably in the form of a butter or a stick. The composition according to the invention may also be cast in a jar or dish.

The composition according to the invention also concerns a process for making up and/or caring for the skin and/or the lips, preferably the lips.

A composition according to the invention also proves to be particularly suitable for the use of water-soluble dyes.

As emerges from the examples below, the combination of the oils under consideration according to the invention proves to be particularly advantageous for formulating alkylcelluloses, preferably such as ethylcellulose, in the said composition.

A composition according to the invention advantageously allows the use of an effective amount of alkylcellulose. For the purposes of the present invention, the term “effective amount” means an amount that is sufficient to obtain the expected effect, as described previously.

In particular, a composition according to the invention comprises at least 1% and particularly preferably at least 4% by weight (solids) of alkylcellulose (preferentially ethylcellulose) relative to the total weight of the composition.

Particularly preferably, the composition according to the invention comprises from 4% to 60% by weight of alkylcellulose (preferably ethylcellulose), more preferably from 5% to 30% by weight and more preferably still from 5% to 20% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

The term “physiologically acceptable medium” is intended to denote a medium that is particularly suitable for the application of a composition according to the invention to the skin and/or the lips.

According to a first embodiment, the composition according to the invention may be in the form of a butter (i.e. in the form of a thick cream or a paste). Its texture may be more or less thick. It may then, for example, be cast in a jar or in a dish.

Preferably, when the composition is in the form of a butter or a paste, it has a viscosity at 20° C. of greater than 1 Pa·s. Preferably, it has a viscosity of between 1 and 25 Pa·s.

Protocol for Measuring the Viscosity:

According to this embodiment, when the composition according to the invention is in the form of a paste at 20° C. (the term “paste” or “butter” means a composition that is therefore not solid, and whose viscosity can be measured), its viscosity may be measured according to the following protocol:

The viscosity measurement is carried out at 20° C., using a Rheomat RM180 viscometer equipped with a No. 4 spindle, the measurement being carried out after rotating the spindle for 10 minutes (at the end of which time stabilization of the viscosity and of the rotational speed of the spindle are observed), at a shear rate of 200 s⁻¹.

The composition according to the invention has at 20° C. a viscosity of between 1 and 25 Pa·s and preferably between 1.5 and 18 Pa·s.

Preferably, the viscosity at 20° C. of a composition according to the invention is between 2 and 16 Pa·s.

According to a second embodiment, the composition according to the invention is in solid form, for example in the form of a stick. The term “solid” refers to a composition whose hardness, measured according to the following protocol, is greater than or equal to 30 Nm⁻¹ at a temperature of 20° C. and at atmospheric pressure (760 mmHg).

Protocol for Measuring the Hardness:

The hardness of the composition is measured according to the following protocol:

The lipstick is stored at 20° C. for 24 hours before measuring the hardness.

The hardness may be measured at 20° C. via the “cheese wire” method, which consists in transversely cutting a wand of product, which is preferably a circular cylinder, by means of a rigid tungsten wire 250 μm in diameter, by moving the wire relative to the stick at a speed of 100 mm/minute.

The hardness of the samples of compositions of the invention, expressed in Nm⁻¹, is measured using a DFGS2 tensile testing machine from the company Indelco-Chatillon.

The measurement is repeated three times and then averaged. The average of the three values read using the tensile testing machine mentioned above, noted Y, is given in grams. This average is converted into newtons and then divided by L which represents the longest distance through which the wire passes. In the case of a cylindrical wand, L is equal to the diameter (in meters).

The hardness is converted into Nm⁻¹ by the equation below: (Y×10⁻³×9.8)/L

For a measurement at a different temperature, the stick is stored for 24 hours at this new temperature before the measurement.

According to a second embodiment, the composition according to the invention may be in the form of a stick. In particular, when the composition is in the form of a stick, for example in the case of a stick of lipstick, it has a hardness that is sufficient for the stick not to break when it is applied to the skin and/or the lips.

According to this measuring method, the composition according to the invention preferably has a hardness at 20° C. and at atmospheric pressure greater than or equal to 35 Nm⁻¹.

Preferably, the composition according to the invention especially has a hardness at 20° C. of less than 300 Nm⁻¹, especially less than 200 Nm⁻¹ and preferably less than 150 Nm⁻¹.

The compositions obtained preferentially have a hardness of between 30 and 115 Nm⁻¹ and preferentially between 35 and 80 Nm⁻¹.

Preferably, the compositions according to the invention are in the form of a stick, preferably with a diameter of 12.7 mm.

In particular, when the composition is in the form of a stick, for example in the case of a stick of lipstick, it has a hardness that is sufficient for the stick not to break when it is applied to the skin and/or the lips.

A composition according to the invention is preferably in the form of an emulsion of oil in an aqueous phase, conventionally known as an “oil-in-water emulsion”.

Preferably, the cosmetic composition according to the invention is a solid lipstick, such as a stick of lipstick, a lip balm or a lipstick cast in a dish, for example. The term “balm” means a coloured or uncoloured, solid composition, which is generally intended for caring for the lips, preferably by means of the presence of a hydrophilic active agent.

According to one particular embodiment, a composition of the invention comprises less than 5% by weight of silicone surfactant(s), in particular less than 4% by weight, especially less than 3% by weight, more particularly less than 2% by weight and in particular less than 1% by weight, or even is totally free of silicone surfactant.

According to another of its aspects, a subject of the present patent application is a cosmetic process for making up and/or caring for the lips and/or the skin, in particular the lips, comprising at least one step that consists in applying to the lips and/or the skin at least one composition as defined previously.

Ethylcellulose

A composition according to the invention comprises at least alkylcellulose, the alkyl residue of which comprises between 1 and 6 carbon atoms, preferably between 2 and 6 carbon atoms and preferably between 2 and 3 carbon atoms, preferably ethylcellulose.

According to one particularly preferred embodiment, the alkylcellulose (preferentially of C₂ to C₆, preferentially ethylcellulose) is present in a composition according to the invention in a content (solids) ranging from 1% to 60% by weight.

Particularly preferably, the composition according to the invention comprises from 4% to 60% by weight of alkylcellulose (preferentially of C2 to C6), preferably from 4% to 60%, more preferably from 4% to 30% by weight and more preferably still from 5% to 20% by weight, relative to the total weight of the said composition.

The alkylcellulose is a cellulose alkyl ether comprising a chain formed from β-anhydroglucose units linked together via acetal bonds. Each anhydroglucose unit contains three replaceable hydroxyl groups, all or some of these hydroxyl groups being able to react according to the following reaction: RONa+C₂H₅Cl→ROC₂H₅+NaCl, in which R represents a cellulose radical.

Advantageously, the alkylcellulose is chosen from methylcellulose, ethylcellulose and propylcellulose.

According to one particularly preferred embodiment, the alkylcellulose is ethylcellulose.

It is a cellulose ethyl ether.

Total substitution of the three hydroxyl groups would lead for each anhydroglucose unit to a degree of substitution of 3, in other words to a content of alkoxy groups of 54.88%.

The ethylcellulose polymers used in a cosmetic composition according to the invention are preferentially polymers with a degree of substitution with ethoxy groups ranging from 2.5 to 2.6 per anhydroglucose unit, in other words comprising a content of ethoxy groups ranging from 44% to 50%.

According to a preferred mode, the alkylcellulose (preferably ethylcellulose) is used in a composition of the invention in the form of particles dispersed in an aqueous phase, like a dispersion of latex or pseudolatex type. The techniques for preparing these latex dispersions are well known to those skilled in the art.

The product sold by the company FMC Biopolymer under the name Aquacoat ECD-30, which consists of a dispersion of ethylcellulose at a rate of about 26.2% by weight in water and stabilized with sodium lauryl sulfate and cetyl alcohol, is most particularly suitable for use as an aqueous dispersion of ethylcellulose.

According to one particular embodiment, the aqueous dispersion of ethylcellulose, in particular the product Aquacoat ECD, may be used in a proportion of from 3% to 90% by weight, in particular from 10% to 60% by weight and preferably from 15% to 50% by weight of ethylcellulose dispersion relative to the total weight of the composition.

As mentioned previously, the alkylcellulose is used according to the present invention in combination with a mixture of oils as described more particularly hereinbelow.

Physiologically Acceptable Medium

Besides the compounds indicated previously, a composition according to the invention comprises a physiologically acceptable medium.

The term “physiologically acceptable medium” is intended to denote a medium that is particularly suitable for applying a composition of the invention to the skin and/or the lips, for instance water, the oils or organic solvents commonly used in cosmetic compositions.

The physiologically acceptable medium (acceptable tolerance, toxicology and feel) is generally adapted to the nature of the support onto which the composition is to be applied, and also to the form in which the composition is to be conditioned.

Fatty Phase

The composition according to the invention comprises at least one fatty phase and especially a liquid fatty phase, at least a first specific hydrocarbon-based non-volatile oil and at least a second non-volatile oil chosen from silicone oils and/or fluoro oils or hydrocarbon-based oils other than the said first oil. The term “oil” means a water-immiscible non-aqueous compound that is liquid at room temperature (25° C.) and at atmospheric pressure (760 mmHg).

Specific First Hydrocarbon-Based Non-Volatile Oil

The composition according to the invention comprises one or more first hydrocarbon-based non-volatile oil(s), chosen from:

-   -   C₁₀-C₂₆ alcohols, preferably monoalcohols;     -   optionally hydroxylated monoesters, diesters or triesters of a         C₂-C₈ monocarboxylic or polycarboxylic acid and of a C₂-C₈         alcohol;     -   esters of a C₂-C₈ polyol and of one or more C₂-C₈ carboxylic         acids.

The term “non-volatile” refers to an oil whose vapour pressure at room temperature and atmospheric pressure is non-zero and is less than 0.02 mmHg (2.66 Pa) and better still less than 10⁻³ mmHg (0.13 Pa).

Preferably, the said “first oil” is chosen from:

-   -   C₁₀-C₂₆ monoalcohols;     -   optionally hydroxylated monoesters of a C₂-C₈ carboxylic acid         and of a C₂-C₈ alcohol;     -   optionally hydroxylated diesters of a C₂-C₈ dicarboxylic acid         and of a C₂-C₈ alcohol;     -   optionally hydroxylated triesters of a C₂-C₈ tricarboxylic acid         and of a C₂-C₈ alcohol;     -   esters of a C₂-C₈ polyol and of one or more C₂-C₈ carboxylic         acids.

The term “hydrocarbon-based oil” means an oil formed essentially from, constituted by, carbon and hydrogen atoms, and possibly oxygen atoms, and free of heteroatoms such as N, Si, F and P. The hydrocarbon-based oil is thus different from a silicone oil or a fluoro oil.

In the present case, the said first oils comprise at least one oxygen atom.

In particular, the said first non-volatile hydrocarbon-based oil comprises at least one alcohol function (it is then an “alcohol oil”) and/or at least one ester function (it is then an “ester oil”).

The ester oils that may be used in the compositions according to the invention may especially be hydroxylated.

According to one particular embodiment, a composition according to the invention comprises one or more first non-volatile hydrocarbon-based oil(s) in a content ranging from 5% to 75%, in particular from 10% to 50% by weight and preferably from 20% to 45% by weight relative to its total weight.

According to one particularly preferred embodiment, the non-volatile hydrocarbon-based oil and the alkylcellulose (in particular ethylcellulose) are used in the composition according to the invention in a “non-volatile hydrocarbon-based first oil(s)/alkylcellulose” weight ratio of between 0.5 and 20 and preferably between 1 and 15. Particularly preferably, the “non-volatile hydrocarbon-based first oil(s)/alkylcellulose” weight ratio is between 2 and 10.

More particularly, the first non-volatile hydrocarbon-based first oil used in a composition according to the invention may especially have plasticizing properties, i.e. it can impart suppleness and comfort to the deposit formed with the composition according to the invention.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the said first oil is a C₁₀-C₂₆ alcohol, preferably a monoalcohol, which is preferably branched when it comprises at least 16 carbon atoms.

Preferably, the C₁₀-C₂₆ alcohols are saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched, and comprise from 10 to 26 carbon atoms. Preferably, the C₁₀-C₂₆ alcohols are fatty alcohols, which are preferably branched when they comprise at least 16 carbon atoms.

As examples of fatty alcohols that may be used according to the invention, mention may be made of linear or branched fatty alcohols, of synthetic origin or alternatively of natural origin, for instance alcohols derived from plant material (coconut, palm kernel, palm, etc.) or animal material (tallow, etc.). Needless to say, other long-chain alcohols may also be used, for instance ether alcohols or Guerbet alcohols. Finally, use may also be made of certain more or less long fractions of alcohols of natural origin, for instance coconut (C₁₂ to C₁₆) or tallow (C₁₆ to C₁₈) or compounds of diol or cholesterol type.

Use is preferably made of a fatty alcohol comprising from 10 to 24 carbon atoms and more preferentially from 12 to 22 carbon atoms.

As particular examples of preferred fatty alcohols that may be used in the context of the present invention, mention may be made especially of lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, palmityl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, erucyl alcohol, arachidyl alcohol, 2-hexyldecyl alcohol, isocetyl alcohol and octyldodecanol, and mixtures thereof.

Preferably, the said first oil is chosen from octyldodecanol and isostearyl alcohol, and mixtures thereof.

Preferably, the said “first oil” is octyldodecanol.

According to a second embodiment, the said first oil is an ester oil chosen from:

-   -   optionally hydroxylated monoesters of a C₂-C₈ carboxylic acid         and of a C₂-C₈ alcohol;     -   optionally hydroxylated diesters of a C₂-C₈ dicarboxylic acid         and of a C₂-C₈ alcohol; such as diisopropyl adipate,         2-diethylhexyl adipate, dibutyl adipate or diisostearyl adipate,     -   optionally hydroxylated triesters of a C₂-C₈ tricarboxylic acid         and of a C₂-C₈ alcohol, such as citric acid esters, such as         trioctyl citrate, triethyl citrate, acetyl tributyl citrate,         tributyl citrate or acetyl tributyl citrate,     -   esters of a C₂-C₈ polyol and of one or more C₂-C₈ carboxylic         acids, such as glycol diesters of monoacids, such as neopentyl         glycol diheptanoate, or glycol triesters of monoacids, such as         triacetin.         Second Non-Volatile Silicone Oil and/or Fluoro Oil or         Hydrocarbon-Based Oil Other than the Said First Oil

According to one of its aspects, a composition according to the invention comprises at least a second non-volatile oil chosen from silicone oils and/or fluoro oils and/or hydrocarbon-based oils other than the said first oil.

The term “non-volatile” refers to an oil whose vapour pressure at room temperature and atmospheric pressure is non-zero and is less than 0.02 mmHg (2.66 Pa) and better still less than 10⁻³ mmHg (0.13 Pa).

Preferably, the non-volatile oil(s) chosen from silicone oils and/or fluoro oils or hydrocarbon-based oil other than the said first oil are present in a total content ranging from 5% to 75% by weight, preferably from 8% to 40% by weight or alternatively from 10% to 30% by weight relative to the total weight of the said composition.

According to one particular embodiment, a composition according to the invention comprises one or more non-volatile silicone oils (preferably phenyl silicone oils) and/or non-volatile fluoro oils or hydrocarbon-based oil other than the said first oil, in a proportion of at least 5% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition, especially from 5% to 75% by weight and particularly preferably from 10% to 45% by weight.

According to one particularly preferred embodiment, the composition comprises a total content of non-volatile oils (i.e. all the non-volatile oils of the composition, irrespective of their nature) of between 40% and 80% by weight and preferably between 45% and 75% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the non-volatile oils (i.e. all the non-volatile oils of the composition, irrespective of their nature) and the alkylcellulose are used in the composition according to the invention in a non-volatile oil(s)/alkylcellulose weight ratio of between 1 and 20 and preferably between 4 and 15.

According to one preferred embodiment, the said second oil is chosen from silicone oils and/or fluoro oils.

Non-Volatile Silicone Oil

According to a first preferred embodiment, the non-volatile oil is a silicone oil.

The term “silicone oil” means an oil comprising at least one silicon atom.

The non-volatile silicone oil that may be used in the invention may be chosen especially from silicone oils especially with a viscosity at 25° C. of greater than or equal to 9 centistokes (cSt) (9×10⁻⁶ m²/s) and less than 800 000 cSt, preferably between 50 and 600 000 cSt and preferably between 100 and 500 000 cSt. The viscosity of this silicone oil may be measured according to standard ASTM D-445.

According to a first embodiment, the non-volatile silicone oil is a non-phenyl silicone oil.

The non-volatile non-phenyl silicone oil may be chosen from:

-   -   non-volatile polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS),     -   PDMSs comprising alkyl or alkoxy groups, which are pendent         and/or at the end of the silicone chain, these groups each         containing from 2 to 24 carbon atoms,     -   PDMSs comprising aliphatic and/or aromatic groups, or functional         groups such as hydroxyl, thiol and/or amine groups,     -   polyalkylmethylsiloxanes optionally substituted with a fluoro         group, such as polymethyltrifluoropropyldimethylsiloxanes,     -   polyalkylmethylsiloxanes substituted with functional groups such         as hydroxyl, thiol and/or amine groups,     -   polysiloxanes modified with fatty acids, fatty alcohols or         polyoxyalkylenes, and mixtures thereof.

According to one embodiment, a composition according to the invention contains at least one non-phenyl silicone oil, in particular such as a linear (i.e. non-cyclic) oil.

Representative examples of these non-volatile non-phenyl linear silicone oils that may be mentioned include polydimethylsiloxanes; alkyl dimethicones; vinyl methyl methicones; and also silicones modified with optionally fluorinated aliphatic groups, or with functional groups such as hydroxyl, thiol and/or amine groups.

The non-phenyl silicone oil may be chosen especially from the silicones of formula (I):

in which:

R₁, R₂, R₅ and R₆ are, together or separately, an alkyl radical containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms,

R₃ and R₄ are, together or separately, an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a vinyl radical, an amine radical or a hydroxyl radical,

X is an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a hydroxyl radical or an amine radical,

n and p are integers chosen so as to have a fluid compound, in particular whose viscosity at 25° C. is between 9 centistokes (cSt) (9×10⁻⁶ m²/s) and 800 000 cSt.

As non-volatile silicone oils that may be used according to the invention, mention may be made of the compounds of formula (I) for which:

-   -   the substituents R₁ to R₆ and X represent a methyl group, and p         and n are such that the viscosity is 500 000 cSt, such as the         product sold under the name SE30 by the company General         Electric, the product sold under the name AK 500000 by the         company Wacker, the product sold under the name Mirasil DM 500         000 by the company Bluestar, and the product sold under the name         Dow Corning 200 Fluid 500 000 cSt by the company Dow Corning,     -   the substituents R₁ to R₆ and X represent a methyl group, and p         and n are such that the viscosity is 60 000 cSt, such as the         product sold under the name Dow Corning 200 Fluid 60000 CS by         the company Dow Corning, and the product sold under the name         Wacker Belsil DM 60 000 by the company Wacker,     -   the substituents R₁ to R₆ and X represent a methyl group, and p         and n are such that the viscosity is 350 cSt, such as the         product sold under the name Dow Corning 200 Fluid 350 CS by the         company Dow Corning,     -   the substituents R₁ to R₆ represent a methyl group, the group X         represents a hydroxyl group, and n and p are such that the         viscosity is 700 cSt, such as the product sold under the name         Baysilone Fluid T0.7 by the company Momentive.

According to a second embodiment, a composition according to the invention contains at least one non-volatile phenyl silicone oil as second non-volatile oil.

Representative examples of these non-volatile phenyl silicone oils that may be mentioned include:

-   -   the phenyl silicone oils corresponding to the following formula:

in which the groups R represent, independently of each other, a methyl or a phenyl, with the proviso that at least one group R represents a phenyl. Preferably, in this formula, the phenyl silicone oil comprises at least three phenyl groups, for example at least four, at least five or at least six.

-   -   the phenyl silicone oils corresponding to the following formula:

in which the groups R represent, independently of each other, a methyl or a phenyl, with the proviso that at least one group R represents a phenyl.

Preferably, in this formula, the said organopolysiloxane comprises at least three phenyl groups, for example at least four or at least five. Mixtures of the phenyl organopolysiloxanes described previously may be used. Examples that may be mentioned include mixtures of triphenyl, tetraphenyl or pentaphenyl organopolysiloxanes.

-   -   the phenyl silicone oils corresponding to the following formula:

in which Me represents methyl, Ph represents phenyl. Such a phenyl silicone is especially manufactured by Dow Corning under the reference PH-1555 HRI or Dow Corning 555 Cosmetic Fluid (chemical name: 1,3,5-trimethyl-1,1,3,5,5-pentaphenyl trisiloxane; INCI name: trimethyl pentaphenyl trisiloxane). The reference Dow Corning 554 Cosmetic Fluid may also be used.

-   -   the phenyl silicone oils corresponding to the following formula:

in which Me represents methyl, y is between 1 and 1000 and X represents —CH₂—CH(CH₃)(Ph).

-   -   the phenyl silicone oils corresponding to formula (V) below:

in which Me is methyl and Ph is phenyl, OR′ represents a group —OSiMe₃ and y is 0 or ranges between 1 and 1000, and z ranges between 1 and 1000, such that compound (V) is a non-volatile oil.

According to a first embodiment, y ranges between 1 and 1000. Use may be made, for example, of trimethyl siloxyphenyl dimethicone, sold especially under the reference Belsil PDM 1000 sold by the company Wacker.

According to a second embodiment, y is equal to 0. Use may be made, for example, of phenyl trimethylsiloxy trisiloxane, sold especially under the reference Dow Corning 556 Cosmetic Grade Fluid,

-   -   the phenyl silicone oils corresponding to formula (VI) below,         and mixtures thereof:

in which:

-   -   R₁ to R₁₀, independently of each other, are saturated or         unsaturated, linear, cyclic or branched C₁-C₃₀ hydrocarbon-based         radicals,     -   m, n, p and q are, independently of each other, integers between         0 and 900, with the proviso that the sum m+n+q is other than 0.

Preferably, the sum m+n+q is between 1 and 100. Preferably, the sum m+n+p+q is between 1 and 900 and better still between 1 and 800. Preferably, q is equal to 0.

-   -   the phenyl silicone oils corresponding to formula (VII) below,         and mixtures thereof:

in which:

-   -   R₁ to R₆, independently of each other, are saturated or         unsaturated, linear, cyclic or branched C₁-C₃₀ hydrocarbon-based         radicals,     -   m, n and p are, independently of each other, integers between 0         and 100, with the proviso that the sum n+m is between 1 and 100.

Preferably, R₁ to R₆, independently of each other, represent a saturated, linear or branched C₁-C₃₀ and especially C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbon-based radical and in particular a methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl radical.

R₁ to R₆ may especially be identical, and in addition may be a methyl radical.

Preferably, m=1 or 2 or 3, and/or n=0 and/or p=0 or 1 may apply, in formula (VII).

-   -   the phenyl silicone oils corresponding to formula (VIII), and         mixtures thereof:

in which:

-   -   R is a C₁-C₃₀ alkyl radical, an aryl radical or an aralkyl         radical,     -   n is an integer ranging from 0 to 100, and     -   m is an integer ranging from 0 to 100, with the proviso that the         sum n+m ranges from 1 to 100.

In particular, the radicals R of formula (VIII) and R₁ to R₁₀ defined previously may each represent a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl radical, especially of C₂-C₂₀, in particular C₃-C₁₆ and more particularly C₄-C₁₀, or a monocyclic or polycyclic C₆-C₁₄ and especially C₁₀-C₁₃ aryl radical, or an aralkyl radical whose aryl and alkyl residues are as defined previously.

Preferably, R of formula (VIII) and R₁ to R₁₀ may each represent a methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, decyl, dodecyl or octadecyl radical, or alternatively a phenyl, tolyl, benzyl or phenethyl radical.

According to one embodiment, a phenyl silicone oil of formula (VIII) with a viscosity at 25° C. of between 5 and 1500 mm²/s (i.e. 5 to 1500 cSt), and preferably with a viscosity of between 5 and 1000 mm²/s (i.e. 5 to 1000 cSt) may be used.

Phenyl silicone oils that may especially be used include the phenyl trimethicones of formula (VIII), such as DC556 from Dow Corning (22.5 cSt), the oil Silbione 70663V30 from Rhone-Poulenc (28 cSt) or diphenyl dimethicones such as Belsil oils, especially Belsil PDM1000 (1000 cSt), Belsil PDM 200 (200 cSt) and Belsil PDM 20 (20 cSt) from Wacker. The values in parentheses represent the viscosities at 25° C.

-   -   the phenyl silicone oils corresponding to the following formula,         and mixtures thereof:

in which:

-   -   R₁, R₂, R₅ and R₆ are, together or separately, an alkyl radical         containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms,     -   R₃ and R₄ are, together or separately, an alkyl radical         containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an aryl radical,     -   X is an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a         hydroxyl radical or a vinyl radical,     -   n and p being chosen so as to give the oil a weight-average         molecular mass of less than 200 000 g/mol, preferably less than         150 000 g/mol and more preferably less than 100 000 g/mol.

Preferably, the phenyl silicones are more particularly chosen from phenyl trimethicones, phenyl dimethicones, phenyltrimethylsiloxydiphenylsiloxanes, diphenyl dimethicones, diphenylmethyldiphenyltrisiloxanes and 2-phenylethyl trimethylsiloxysilicates, and mixtures thereof.

More particularly, the phenyl silicones are chosen from phenyl trimethicones, phenyl dimethicones, phenyltrimethylsiloxydiphenylsiloxanes, diphenyl dimethicones, diphenylmethyldiphenyltrisiloxanes and 2-phenylethyl trimethylsiloxysilicates, and mixtures thereof.

Preferably, the weight-average molecular weight of the non-volatile phenyl silicone oil according to the invention ranges from 500 to 10 000 g/mol.

Preferably, the non-volatile silicone oil is chosen from:

-   -   phenyl silicones (also known as phenyl silicone oil) such as         trimethylsiloxyphenyl dimethicone (for instance Belsil PDM 1000         from the company Wacker (MW=9000 g/mol) (cf formula (V) above),         phenyl trimethicones (such as the phenyl trimethicone sold under         the trade name DC556 by Dow Corning), phenyl dimethicones,         phenyltrimethylsiloxydiphenylsiloxanes, diphenyl dimethicones,         diphenylmethyldiphenyltrisiloxanes, 2-phenylethyl         trimethylsiloxysilicates, trimethylpentaphenyl trisiloxane (such         as the product sold under the name Dow Corning PH-1555 HRI         Cosmetic fluid by Dow Corning) (cf. formula (III) above),     -   non-volatile polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS), polydimethylsiloxanes         comprising alkyl or alkoxy groups, which are pendent and/or at         the end of the silicone chain, these groups each containing from         2 to 24 carbon atoms,     -   and mixtures thereof.

Preferably, the second non-volatile oil is a phenyl silicone oil.

Preferably, a phenyl silicone oil is used. According to one preferred embodiment, the phenyl silicone oil is chosen from trimethylsiloxyphenyl dimethicones.

According to one preferred embodiment, the non-volatile silicone oil(s) are present in a total content ranging from 5% to 75% by weight, in particular from 8% to 40% by weight and preferably from 10% to 30% by weight relative to the total weight of the said composition.

Non-Volatile Fluoro Oil

According to a second embodiment, the second non-volatile oil is a fluoro oil.

The term “fluoro oil” means an oil containing at least one fluorine atom.

The fluoro oils that may be used according to the invention may be chosen from fluorosilicone oils, fluoro polyethers and fluorosilicones as described in document EP-A-847 752, and perfluoro compounds.

According to the invention, the term “perfluoro compounds” means compounds in which all the hydrogen atoms have been replaced with fluorine atoms.

According to one particularly preferred embodiment, the fluoro oil according to the invention is chosen from perfluoro oils.

As examples of perfluoro oils that may be used in the invention, mention may be made of perfluorodecalins and perfluoroperhydrophenanthrenes.

According to one particularly preferred embodiment, the fluoro oil is chosen from perfluoroperhydrophenanthrenes, and especially the Fiflow® products sold by the company Créations Couleurs. In particular, use may be made of the fluoro oil for which the INCI name is Perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene, sold under the reference Fiflow 220 by the company F2 Chemicals.

According to a third embodiment, the said second non-volatile oil is a hydrocarbon-based oil, which is different from the said first oil.

According to a first embodiment, the second non-volatile hydrocarbon-based oil is chosen from apolar hydrocarbon-based oils.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term “apolar oil” means an oil whose solubility parameter at 25° C., δ_(a), is equal to 0 (J/cm³)^(1/2).

The definition and calculation of the solubility parameters in the Hansen three-dimensional solubility space are described in the paper by C. M. Hansen: “The three-dimensional solubility parameters”, J. Paint Technol., 39, 105 (1967).

According to this Hansen space:

-   -   δ_(D) characterizes the London dispersion forces derived from         the formation of dipoles induced during molecular impacts;     -   δ_(p) characterizes the Debye interaction forces between         permanent dipoles and also the Keesom interaction forces between         induced dipoles and permanent dipoles;     -   δ_(h) characterizes the specific interaction forces (such as         hydrogen bonding, acid/base, donor/acceptor, etc.); and     -   δ_(a) is determined by the equation: δ_(a)=(δ_(p) ²δ_(h)         ²)^(1/2).

The parameters δ_(p), δ_(h), δ_(D) and δ_(a) are expressed in (J/cm³)^(1/2).

Preferably, the non-volatile apolar hydrocarbon-based oil is free of oxygen atoms.

Preferably, the non-volatile apolar hydrocarbon-based oil may be chosen from linear or branched hydrocarbons of mineral or synthetic origin, such as:

-   -   liquid paraffin or derivatives thereof,     -   liquid petroleum jelly,     -   naphthalene oil,     -   polybutylenes such as Indopol H-100 (molar mass or MW=965         g/mol), Indopol H-300 (MW=1340 g/mol) and Indopol H-1500         (MW=2160 g/mol) sold or manufactured by the company Amoco,     -   hydrogenated polyisobutylenes such as Parleam® sold by the         company Nippon Oil Fats, Panalane H-300 E sold or manufactured         by the company Amoco (MW=1340 g/mol), Viseal 20000 sold or         manufactured by the company Synteal (MW=6000 g/mol) and Rewopal         PIB 1000 sold or manufactured by the company Witco (MW=1000         g/mol),     -   decene/butene copolymers, polybutene/polyisobutene copolymers,         especially Indopol L-14,     -   polydecenes and hydrogenated polydecenes such as: Puresyn 10         (MW=723 g/mol) and Puresyn 150 (MW=9200 g/mol) sold or         manufactured by the company Mobil Chemicals,     -   and mixtures thereof.

According to a second embodiment, the second non-volatile hydrocarbon-based oil is chosen from polar hydrocarbon-based oils other than the said “first oil”.

In particular, the said second polar non-volatile oil other than the said first oil may be an ester oil, in particular containing between 18 and 70 carbon atoms.

Examples that may be mentioned include monoesters, diesters or triesters.

The ester oils may especially be hydroxylated.

The non-volatile ester oil is preferably chosen from:

-   -   monoesters comprising between 18 and 40 carbon atoms in total,         in particular the monoesters of formula R₁COOR₂ in which R₁         represents a linear or branched fatty acid residue comprising         from 4 to 40 carbon atoms and R₂ represents a hydrocarbon-based         chain, which is especially branched, containing from 4 to 40         carbon atoms, on condition that R₁+R₂≥18, for instance Purcellin         oil (cetostearyl octanoate), isononyl isononanoate, C₁₂ to C₁₅         alkyl benzoates, 2-ethylhexyl palmitate, octyldodecyl         neopentanoate, 2-octyldodecyl stearate, 2-octyldodecyl erucate,         isostearyl isostearate, 2-octyldodecyl benzoate, alcohol or         polyalcohol octanoates, decanoates or ricinoleates, isopropyl         myristate, isopropyl palmitate, butyl stearate, hexyl laurate,         2-ethylhexyl palmitate, 2-hexyldecyl laurate, 2-octyldecyl         palmitate, 2-octyldodecyl myristate or 2-diethylhexyl succinate.         Preferably, they are esters of formula R₁COOR₂ in which R₁         represents a linear or branched fatty acid residue containing         from 4 to 40 carbon atoms and R₂ represents a hydrocarbon-based         chain that is especially branched, containing from 4 to 40         carbon atoms provided that R₁+R₂≥18. Preferably, the ester         comprises between 18 and 40 carbon atoms in total. Preferred         monoesters that may be mentioned include isononyl isononanoate,         oleyl erucate and/or 2-octyldodecyl neopentanoate;     -   diesters, especially comprising between 18 and 60 carbon atoms         in total and in particular between 18 and 50 carbon atoms in         total. It is especially possible to use diesters of dicarboxylic         acids and of monoalcohols, preferably such as diisostearyl         malate, or glycol diesters of monocarboxylic acids, such as         neopentyl glycol diheptanoate or poly-2-glyceryl diisostearate         (especially such as the compound sold under the trade reference         Dermol DGDIS by the company Alzo);     -   triesters, especially comprising between 35 and 70 carbon atoms         in total, in particular such as triesters of a tricarboxylic         acid, such as triisostearyl citrate, or tridecyl trimellitate,         or glycol triesters of monocarboxylic acids such as         poly-2-glyceryl triisostearate;     -   tetraesters, especially with a total carbon number ranging from         35 to 70, such as pentaerythritol or polyglycerol tetraesters of         a monocarboxylic acid, for instance pentaerythrityl         tetrapelargonate, pentaerythrityl tetraisostearate,         pentaerythrityl tetraisononanoate, glyceryl         tris(2-decyl)tetradecanoate, poly-2-glyceryl tetraisostearate or         pentaerythrityl tetrakis(2-decyl)tetradecanoate;     -   polyesters obtained by condensation of an unsaturated fatty acid         dimer and/or trimer and of diol, such as those described in         patent application FR 0 853 634, in particular such as         dilinoleic acid and 1,4-butanediol. Mention may especially be         made in this respect of the polymer sold by Biosynthis under the         name Viscoplast 14436H (INCI name: dilinoleic acid/butanediol         copolymer), or copolymers of polyols and of diacid dimers, and         esters thereof, such as Hailuscent ISDA;     -   esters and polyesters of diol dimer and of monocarboxylic or         dicarboxylic acid, such as esters of diol dimer and of fatty         acid and esters of diol dimer and of dicarboxylic acid dimer, in         particular which may be obtained from a dicarboxylic acid dimer         derived in particular from the dimerization of an unsaturated         fatty acid especially of C₈ to C₃₄, especially of C₁₂ to C₂₂, in         particular of C₁₆ to C₂₀ and more particularly of C₁₈, such as         esters of dilinoleic diacids and of dilinoleic diol dimers, for         instance those sold by the company Nippon Fine Chemical under         the trade names Lusplan DD-DA5® and DD-DA7®;     -   vinylpyrrolidone/1-hexadecene copolymers, for instance the         product sold under the name Antaron V-216 (also known as Ganex         V216) by the company ISP (MW=7300 g/mol),     -   hydrocarbon-based plant oils such as fatty acid triglycerides         (which are liquid at room temperature), especially of fatty         acids containing from 7 to 40 carbon atoms, such as heptanoic or         octanoic acid triglycerides or jojoba oil; mention may be made         in particular of saturated triglycerides such as caprylic/capric         triglycerides and mixtures thereof, for instance the product         sold under the reference Myritol 318 from Cognis, glyceryl         triheptanoate, glyceryl trioctanoate, and C₁₈₋₃₆ acid         triglycerides such as those sold under the reference Dub TGI 24         sold by Stéarineries Dubois,         and unsaturated triglycerides such as castor oil, olive oil,         ximenia oil and pracaxi oil;     -   and mixtures thereof.

Additional Oils

The composition according to the invention may comprise, besides the non-volatile hydrocarbon-based “first oil” and besides the non-volatile “second oil” chosen from silicone oils and/or fluoro oils or hydrocarbon-based oils other than the said first oil, at least one additional oil other than these oils.

In particular, the additional oil may be chosen from volatile oils, in particular volatile hydrocarbon-based oils, volatile silicone oils and/or volatile fluoro oils.

For the purposes of the invention, the term “volatile oil” means an oil that is capable of evaporating on contact with keratin materials in less than one hour, at room temperature and atmospheric pressure (760 mmHg). The volatile organic solvent(s) and volatile oils of the invention are volatile organic solvents and cosmetic oils that are liquid at room temperature, with a non-zero vapour pressure at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, ranging in particular from 0.13 Pa to 40 000 Pa (10⁻³ to 300 mmHg), in particular ranging from 1.3 Pa to 13 000 Pa (0.01 to 100 mmHg), and more particularly ranging from 1.3 Pa to 1300 Pa (0.01 to 10 mmHg).

The additional volatile oil may especially be a silicone oil, a hydrocarbon-based oil, which is preferably apolar, or a fluoro oil.

According to a first embodiment, the additional volatile oil is a silicone oil and may be chosen especially from silicone oils with a flash point ranging from 40° C. to 102° C., preferably with a flash point of greater than 55° C. and less than or equal to 95° C., and preferentially ranging from 65° C. to 95° C.

As additional volatile silicone oils that may be used in the invention, mention may be made of linear or cyclic silicones with a viscosity at room temperature of less than 8 centistokes (cSt) (8×10⁻⁶ m²/s), and especially containing from 2 to 10 silicon atoms and in particular from 2 to 7 silicon atoms, these silicones optionally comprising alkyl or alkoxy groups containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms. As volatile silicone oils that may be used in the invention, mention may be made especially of dimethicones with viscosities of 5 and 6 cSt, octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane, heptamethylhexyltrisiloxane, heptamethyloctyltrisiloxane, hexamethyldisiloxane, octamethyltrisiloxane, decamethyltetrasiloxane and dodecamethylpentasiloxane, and mixtures thereof.

According to a second embodiment, the additional volatile oil is a fluoro oil, such as nonafluoromethoxybutane or perfluoromethylcyclopentane, and mixtures thereof.

According to a third embodiment, the additional volatile oil is a hydrocarbon-based oil, which is preferably apolar.

The additional apolar volatile hydrocarbon-based oil may have a flash point ranging from 40° C. to 102° C., preferably ranging from 40° C. to 55° C. and preferentially ranging from 40° C. to 50° C.

The additional hydrocarbon-based volatile oil may especially be chosen from hydrocarbon-based volatile oils containing from 8 to 16 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof, and especially:

-   -   branched C₈-C₁₆ alkanes such as C₈-C₁₆ isoalkanes (also known as         isoparaffins), isododecane, isodecane and isohexadecane, and,         for example, the oils sold under the trade name Isopar or         Permethyl,     -   linear alkanes, for example such as n-dodecane (C12) and         n-tetradecane (C14) sold by Sasol under the references,         respectively, Parafol 12-97 and Parafol 14-97, and also mixtures         thereof, the undecane-tridecane mixture (Cetiol UT), mixtures of         n-undecane (C11) and of n-tridecane (C13) obtained in Examples 1         and 2 of patent application WO 2008/155 059 from the company         Cognis, and mixtures thereof.

According to one particular embodiment, the additional volatile oil(s) may be present in a content ranging from 0.1% to 30% by weight and especially from 0.5% to 20% by weight relative to the total weight of the said composition.

Advantageously, the composition contains less than 10% by weight of monoalcohols containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and preferably less than 5%. According to one particular embodiment, the composition may be free of monoalcohols containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms.

According to a preferred embodiment, the composition is free of additional volatile oil.

According to one particular embodiment, the composition comprises a total content of non-volatile oil(s) ranging from 10% to 90% by weight, preferably ranging from 20% to 80% by weight and more preferably from 35% to 75% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.

Preferably, the composition comprises between 4% and 30% by weight of alkylcellulose, preferably ethylcellulose, between 15% and 50% by weight of water and between 35% and 75% by weight of non-volatile oils.

Solid Fatty Substances:

Wax(es)

The composition according to the invention comprises at least one wax.

For the purposes of the invention, the term “wax” means a lipophilic compound, which is solid at room temperature (25° C.), with a reversible solid/liquid change of state, which has a melting point of greater than or equal to 30° C., which may be up to 120° C.

The waxes that may be used in a composition according to the invention are chosen from solid waxes that may or may not be deformable at room temperature of animal, plant, mineral or synthetic origin, and mixtures thereof.

Hydrocarbon-based waxes, for instance beeswax, lanolin wax or Chinese insect wax; rice wax, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, ouricury wax, esparto grass wax, cork fibre wax, sugar cane wax, Japan wax and sumach wax; montan wax, microcrystalline waxes, paraffins and ozokerite; polyethylene waxes, polymethylene waxes, the waxes obtained by Fisher-Tropsch synthesis and waxy copolymers, and also esters thereof, may especially be used.

Mention may also be made of waxes obtained by catalytic hydrogenation of animal or plant oils containing linear or branched C₈-C₃₂ fatty chains.

Among these waxes that may especially be mentioned are hydrogenated jojoba oil, hydrogenated sunflower oil, hydrogenated castor oil, hydrogenated coconut oil, hydrogenated lanolin oil, bis(1,1,1-trimethylolpropane) tetrastearate sold under the name Hest 2T-4S by the company Heterene, and bis(1,1,1-trimethylolpropane) tetrabehenate sold under the name Hest 2T-4B by the company Heterene.

Waxes that may also be mentioned include silicone waxes (C₃₀₋₄₅ alkyl dimethicone) and fluoro waxes.

Waxes that may also be used include those obtained by hydrogenation of castor oil esterified with cetyl alcohol, sold under the names Phytowax ricin 16L64® and 22L73® by the company Sophim. Such waxes are described in patent application FR-A-2 792 190.

A wax that may be used is a C₂₀-C₄₀ alkyl (hydroxystearyloxy)stearate (the alkyl group containing from 20 to 40 carbon atoms), alone or as a mixture. Such a wax is especially sold under the names Kester Wax K 82 P®, Hydroxypolyester K 82 P® and Kester Wax K 80 P® by the company Koster Keunen.

Preferably, the said wax(es) are chosen from waxes whose melting point (Tm) is less than or equal to 66° C. and preferably less than or equal to 65° C.

Preferably, the wax with a Tm of less than or equal to 66° C. and preferably less than or equal to 65° C. is chosen from: candelilla wax (64.3° C.), polyglycerolated beeswax (63.1° C.), ceresin wax (60.1° C.), Ultrabee WD (61.3° C.), pentaerythrityl tetrastearate (63.0° C.), tetracontanyl stearate (65.1° C.), fatty acid wax (63.7° C.); beeswax (62.6° C.), Montan wax (63.4° C.), sucrose polybehenate (64.1° C.), Koster KPC-60 (61.7° C.), Koster KPC-63 (65.2° C.), the hydrogenated esters of olive oil and of stearyl alcohol (57° C.) sold under the reference Phytowax Olive 18 L 57 by the company Sophim, the hydrogenated palm oil sold under the reference GV 60 by SIO (ADM), the polymethylene wax (54° C.) sold under the reference Cirebelle 303 by Cirebelle; the polymethylene wax (40° C.) sold under the reference Cirebelle 505 by Cirebelle, the glyceryl tribehenate (60° C.) sold under the reference Syncrowax HRC-PA-(MH) by Croda, and mixtures thereof.

Preferably, the composition may comprise at least one polymethylene wax, preferably chosen from the polymethylene wax (54° C.) sold under the reference Cirebelle 303 by Cirebelle; the polymethylene wax (40° C.) sold under the reference Cirebelle 505 by Cirebelle.

According to one particularly preferred embodiment, the composition is free of wax with a Tm of greater than 66° C.

The reason for this is that during the preparation of a composition according to the invention, the introduction of a wax with a Tm of greater than 66° C., for instance polyethylene wax, microcrystalline wax or carnauba wax, may lead to the formation of lumps and balls, and thus prevent the production of a smooth, homogeneous composition.

Illustrations of such waxes are especially carnauba wax (82.3° C.), ozokerite (66.8° C.), microcrystalline wax (83.3° C.), the polyethylene wax sold, for example, under the name Asensa SC 211 by Honeywell (95.6° C.), the wax AC 540 (98.4° C.), hydroxyoctacosanyl hydroxystearate (76.8° C.), hydrogenated castor waxes (81.7° C.), the wax AC400 (86.3° C.), the polyethylene wax sold, for example, under the name Performalene 500-L Polyethylene from New Phase Technologies (77.3° C.), hydrogenated jojoba wax (69.4° C.), rice bran wax (78.6° C.), the tricontanyl/PVP copolymer (68.8° C.), octacosanyl stearate (72.5° C.), the polyethylene wax sold, for example, under the name Performalene 400 Polyethylene from New Phase Technologies (71.8° C.), the polyethylene wax sold, for example, under the name Performalene 655 Polyethylene from New Phase Technologies (92.9° C.), polyethylenated alcohol wax (95.7° C.), Koster K82P (69.6° C.), polymethylalkyl dimethylsiloxane (67.8° C.), polyethylene related alcohol wax (76.2° C.), Fischer-Tropsch wax (79.3° C.), behenyl alcohol (66.9° C.), Chinese insect wax (81.1° C.), shellac wax (73.8° C.), behenyl fumarate (74.5° C.), didotricontanyl distearate (70.7° C.), Betawax RX-13750 (72.0° C.), dipentaerythrityl hexastearate (67.7° C.), ditrimethylolpropane tetrabehenate (67.5° C.), Phytowax Ricin 16 L 64 (69.1° C.), Phytowax Ricin 22 L 73 (76.6° C.), ouricury wax (81.0° C.), and mixtures thereof.

Emulsifying Silicone Wax:

According to one particular embodiment, the composition according to the invention comprises at least one emulsifying silicone wax, preferably such as the product INCI whose name is BIS-PEG-18 methyl ether dimethyl silane, sold especially under the reference Dow Corning 2501 Cosmetic Wax by Dow Corning.

The composition according to the invention may comprise from 1% to 20% by weight and better still between 2% and 15%, by total weight, of this emulsifying silicone wax relative to the total weight of the composition.

Preferably, the wax is chosen from candelilla wax and/or polymethylene wax, and/or the wax BIS-PEG-18 methyl ether dimethyl silane; and mixtures thereof.

Preferably, the wax is a polymethylene wax.

According to a preferred embodiment, the composition according to the invention comprises at least two waxes, preferably polymethylene wax and candelilla wax.

Preferably, according to this embodiment, the waxes are present in a polymethylene wax/candelilla wax ratio of between 0.5 and 10 and preferably between 1 and 5.

Preferably, the total wax content is between 0.5% and 30% by weight and especially between 1% and 25% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the composition according to the invention may be in the form of a stick. Preferably, according to this embodiment, the composition comprises at least candelilla wax. The reason for this is that this wax is particularly suitable for structuring the composition according to the invention and for obtaining a solid composition, preferably whose hardness is greater than 30 Nm⁻¹; according to the measuring protocol described previously.

In particular, when the composition is in the form of a stick, for example in the case of a stick of lipstick, it has a hardness that is sufficient for the stick not to break when it is applied to the skin and/or the lips.

Additional Fatty Substance:

Besides the oils and the candelilla waxes described previously, the composition under consideration according to the invention may also comprise at least one additional fatty substance, in particular at least one pasty fatty substance.

Pasty Fatty Substances

The composition under consideration according to the invention may also comprise at least one pasty fatty substance.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term “pasty fatty substance” (also known as pasty fatty substance) means a lipophilic fatty compound with a reversible solid/liquid change of state, exhibiting an anisotropic crystalline organization in the solid state, and comprising, at a temperature of 23° C., a liquid fraction and a solid fraction.

In other words, the starting melting point of the pasty compound can be less than 23° C. The liquid fraction of the pasty compound, measured at 23° C., can represent from 9% to 97% by weight of the compound. This liquid fraction at 23° C. preferably represents between 15% and 85% and more preferably between 40% and 85% by weight.

Within the meaning of the invention, the melting point corresponds to the temperature of the most endothermic peak observed in thermal analysis (DSC) as described in Standard ISO 11357-3; 1999. The melting point of a pasty substance or of a wax may be measured using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), for example the calorimeter sold under the name MDSC 2920 by the company TA Instruments.

The measuring protocol is as follows:

A sample of 5 mg of paste or wax (depending on the case) placed in a crucible is subjected to a first temperature rise passing from −20° C. to 100° C., at the heating rate of 10° C./minute, then is cooled from 100° C. to −20° C. at a cooling rate of 10° C./minute and finally subjected to a second temperature rise passing from −20° C. to 100° C. at a heating rate of 5° C./minute. During the second temperature rise, the variation in the difference in power absorbed by the empty crucible and the crucible containing the sample of pasty substance or wax is measured as a function of the temperature. The melting point of the compound is the value of the temperature corresponding to the tip of the peak of the curve representing the variation in the difference in power absorbed as a function of the temperature.

The liquid fraction by weight of the pasty compound at 23° C. is equal to the ratio of the enthalpy of fusion consumed at 23° C. to the enthalpy of fusion of the pasty compound.

The enthalpy of fusion of the pasty compound is the enthalpy consumed by the compound in order to change from the solid state to the liquid state. The pasty compound is said to be in the solid state when all of its mass is in crystalline solid form. The pasty compound is said to be in the liquid state when all of its mass is in liquid form.

The heat of fusion of the pasty compound is equal to the area under the curve of the thermogram obtained using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), such as the calorimeter sold under the name MDSC 2920 by the company TA Instrument, with a temperature rise of 5° C. or 10° C. per minute, according to standard ISO 11357-3:1999. The enthalpy of fusion of the pasty compound is the amount of energy necessary to make the compound change from the solid state to the liquid state. It is expressed in J/g.

The heat of fusion consumed at 23° C. is the amount of energy absorbed by the sample to change from the solid state to the state that it has at 23° C., composed of a liquid fraction and a solid fraction.

The liquid fraction of the pasty compound measured at 32° C. preferably represents from 30% to 100% by weight of the compound, preferably from 50% to 100%, more preferably from 60% to 100% by weight of the compound. When the liquid fraction of the pasty compound measured at 32° C. is equal to 100%, the temperature of the end of the melting range of the pasty compound is less than or equal to 32° C.

The liquid fraction of the pasty compound measured at 32° C. is equal to the ratio of the enthalpy of fusion consumed at 32° C. to the enthalpy of fusion of the pasty compound. The enthalpy of fusion consumed at 32° C. is calculated in the same way as the enthalpy of fusion consumed at 23° C.

The pasty fatty compound may preferably be chosen from synthetic compounds and compounds of plant origin. A pasty fatty substance may be obtained by synthesis from starting materials of plant origin.

The pasty compound is advantageously chosen from:

-   -   lanolin and derivatives thereof, such as lanolin alcohol,         oxyethylenated lanolins, acetylated lanolin, lanolin esters such         as isopropyl lanolate, and oxypropylenated lanolins;     -   petrolatum, in particular the product which has this as INCI         name and which is sold under the name Ultima White PET USP by         Penreco;     -   polyol ethers chosen from ethers of pentaerythritol and of         polyalkylene glycol, ethers of fatty alcohol and of sugar, and         mixtures thereof, the ethers of pentaerythritol and of         polyethylene glycol comprising 5 oxyethylene units (5 OE) (CTFA         name: PEG-5 Pentaerythrityl Ether), the polypropylene glycol         pentaerythrityl ether comprising 5 oxypropylene (5 OP) units         (CTFA name: PPG-5 Pentaerythrityl Ether) and mixtures thereof,         and more especially the mixture PEG-5 Pentaerythrityl Ether,         PPG-5 Pentaerythrityl Ether and soybean oil, sold under the name         Lanolide by the company Vevy, which is a mixture in which the         constituents are in a 46/46/8 weight ratio: 46% PEG-5         Pentaerythrityl Ether, 46% PPG-5 Pentaerythrityl Ether and 8%         soybean oil;     -   polymeric or non-polymeric silicone compounds;     -   polymeric or non-polymeric fluoro compounds;     -   vinyl polymers, in particular:         -   olefin homopolymers and copolymers, and especially             vinylpyrrolidone/eicosene copolymers, for instance the             product sold under the name Antaron V-220 (also known as             Ganex V220) by the company ISP,         -   hydrogenated diene homopolymers and copolymers,         -   oligomers that are linear or branched homopolymers or             copolymers of alkyl (meth)acrylates preferably containing a             C₈-C₃₀ alkyl group,         -   oligomers that are homopolymers and copolymers of vinyl             esters containing C₈-C₃₀ alkyl groups,         -   oligomers that are homopolymers and copolymers of vinyl             ethers having C₈-C₃₀ alkyl groups,     -   liposoluble polyethers resulting from polyetherification between         one or more C₂-C₁₀₀ and preferably C₂-C₅₀ diols,     -   esters,     -   and/or their mixtures.

The pasty compound is preferably a polymer, in particular a hydrocarbon polymer.

Preference is given in particular, among the fat-soluble polyethers, to copolymers of ethylene oxide and/or of propylene oxide with long-chain C₆-C₃₀ alkylene oxides, more preferably such that the ratio by weight of the ethylene oxide and/or of the propylene oxide to the alkylene oxides in the copolymer is from 5:95 to 70:30. In this family, mention will be made in particular of copolymers such that the long-chain alkylene oxides are positioned in blocks having an average molecular weight from 1000 to 10 000, for example a polyoxyethylene/polydodecyl glycol block copolymer, such as the ethers of dodecanediol (22 mol) and of polyethylene glycol (45 OE) sold under the brand name Elfacos ST9 by Akzo Nobel.

Preference is given in particular, among the esters, to:

esters of an oligomeric glycerol, in particular diglycerol esters, especially condensates of adipic acid and of glycerol, for which a portion of the hydroxyl groups of the glycerols have reacted with a mixture of fatty acids, such as stearic acid, capric acid, stearic acid and isostearic acid, and 12-hydroxystearic acid, preferably such as bis-diglyceryl polyacyladipate-2, sold under the brand name Softisan 649 by Sasol,

-   -   vinyl ester homopolymers containing C₈-C₃₀ alkyl groups, such as         polyvinyl laurate (sold especially under the reference Mexomer         PP by the company Chimex) and arachidyl propionate sold under         the brand name Waxenol 801 by Alzo,     -   phytosterol esters,     -   fatty acid triglycerides and their derivatives, such as, for         example, triglycerides of fatty acids, in particular C₁₀-C₁₈         fatty acids, which are partially or completely hydrogenated,         such as those sold under the reference Softisan 100 by Sasol,     -   pentaerythritol esters,     -   non-crosslinked polyesters resulting from polycondensation         between a linear or branched C₄-C₅₀ dicarboxylic acid or         polycarboxylic acid and a C₂-C₅₀ diol or polyol,

aliphatic esters of an ester resulting from the esterification of an aliphatic hydroxycarboxylic acid ester with an aliphatic carboxylic acid. Preferably, the aliphatic carboxylic acid comprises from 4 to 30 and preferably from 8 to 30 carbon atoms. It is preferably chosen from hexanoic acid, heptanoic acid, octanoic acid, 2-ethylhexanoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, undecanoic acid, dodecanoic acid, tridecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid, pentadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, hexyldecanoic acid, heptadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid, isostearic acid, nonadecanoic acid, eicosanoic acid, isoarachidic acid, octyldodecanoic acid, heneicosanoic acid and docosanoic acid, and mixtures thereof. The aliphatic carboxylic acid is preferably branched. The aliphatic hydroxycarboxylic acid ester is advantageously derived from a hydroxylated aliphatic carboxylic acid containing from 2 to 40 carbon atoms, preferably from 10 to 34 carbon atoms and better still from 12 to 28 carbon atoms, and from 1 to 20 hydroxyl groups, preferably from 1 to 10 hydroxyl groups and better still from 1 to 6 hydroxyl groups. The aliphatic hydroxycarboxylic acid ester is chosen from:

-   -   a) partial or total esters of saturated linear monohydroxylated         aliphatic monocarboxylic acids;     -   b) partial or total esters of unsaturated monohydroxylated         aliphatic monocarboxylic acids;     -   c) partial or total esters of saturated monohydroxylated         aliphatic polycarboxylic acids;     -   d) partial or total esters of saturated polyhydroxylated         aliphatic polycarboxylic acids;     -   e) partial or total esters of C₂ to C₁₆ aliphatic polyols that         have reacted with a monohydroxylated or polyhydroxylated         aliphatic monocarboxylic or polycarboxylic acid,         and mixtures thereof,     -   esters of a diol dimer and of a diacid dimer, where appropriate         esterified on their free alcohol or acid functional group(s)         with acid or alcohol radicals, in particular dimer dilinoleate         esters; such esters can be chosen in particular from the esters         having the following INCI nomenclature:         bis-behenyl/isostearyl/phytosteryl dimer dilinoleyl dimer         dilinoleate (Plandool G),         phytosteryl/isostearyl/cetyl/stearyl/behenyl dimer dilinoleate         (Plandool H or Plandool S), and mixtures thereof,     -   mango butter, such as the product sold under the reference Lipex         203 by AarhusKarlshamn,     -   hydrogenated soybean oil, hydrogenated coconut oil, hydrogenated         rape seed oil, mixtures of hydrogenated vegetable oils such as         the mixture of hydrogenated soybean, coconut, palm and rape seed         vegetable oil, for example the mixture sold under the reference         Akogel® by the company AarhusKarlshamn (INCI name: Hydrogenated         Vegetable Oil),     -   shea butter, in particular the product for which the INCI name         is Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, such as the product sold under         the reference Sheasoft® by the company AarhusKarlshamn,     -   and mixtures thereof.

The choice will preferably be made, among the pasty compounds, of bis-behenyl/isostearyl/phytosteryl dimer dilinoleyl dimer dilinoleate, bis-diglyceryl polyacyladipate-2, hydrogenated castor oil, for example Risocast-DA-L sold by Kokyu Alcohol Kogyo, hydrogenated castor oil isostearate, for example Salacos HCIS (V-L) sold by Nisshin Oil, polyvinyl laurate, mango butter, shea butter, hydrogenated soybean oil, hydrogenated coconut oil, hydrogenated rape seed oil, vinylpyrrolidone/eicosene copolymers, or their mixture.

The pasty fatty substance(s) may be present in an amount ranging from 0.5% to 30% by weight and especially from 1% to 20% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.

A composition used according to the invention may comprise, besides the abovementioned compounds, at least one structuring agent chosen from semi-crystalline polymers, and mixtures thereof.

Semi-Crystalline Polymer

The composition according to the invention may also comprise at least one semi-crystalline polymer, in particular, a semi-crystalline polymer of organic structure whose melting point is greater than or equal to 30° C.

Preferably, the total amount of semi-crystalline polymer(s) represents from 2% to 20% by weight, for example from 3% to 15% by weight and better still from 4% to 10% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.

For the purposes of the invention, the term “polymers” means compounds comprising at least two repeating units, preferably at least three repeating units and more especially at least ten repeating units.

For the purposes of the invention, the term “semi-crystalline polymer” means polymers comprising a crystallizable portion and an amorphous portion in the backbone and having a first-order reversible change of phase temperature, in particular of melting (solid-liquid transition). The crystallizable portion is either a side chain (or pendent chain) or a block in the backbone.

When the crystallizable portion of the semi-crystalline polymer is a block of the polymer backbone, this crystallizable block has a chemical nature different from that of the amorphous blocks; in this case, the semi-crystalline polymer is a block copolymer, for example of the diblock, triblock or multiblock type. When the crystallizable portion is a chain that is pendent on the backbone, the semi-crystalline polymer may be a homopolymer or a copolymer.

The terms “organic compound” and “having an organic structure” mean compounds containing carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms and optionally heteroatoms such as S, O, N or P, alone or in combination.

The melting point of the semi-crystalline polymer is preferably less than 150° C.

The melting point of the semi-crystalline polymer is preferably greater than or equal to 30° C. and less than 100° C. More preferably, the melting point of the semi-crystalline polymer is preferably greater than or equal to 30° C. and less than 70° C.

The semi-crystalline polymer(s) according to the invention are solid at room temperature (25° C.) and atmospheric pressure (760 mmHg), with a melting point of greater than or equal to 30° C. The melting point values correspond to the melting point measured using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), such as the calorimeter sold under the name DSC 30 by the company Mettler, with a temperature rise of 5° C. or 10° C. per minute. (The melting point under consideration is the point corresponding to the temperature of the most endothermic peak of the thermogram).

The semi-crystalline polymer(s) according to the invention preferably have a melting point that is higher than the temperature of the keratinous support intended to receive the said composition, in particular the skin or the lips.

According to the invention, the semi-crystalline polymers are advantageously soluble in the fatty phase, especially to at least 1% by weight, at a temperature that is higher than their melting point. Besides the crystallizable chains or blocks, the blocks of the polymers are amorphous.

For the purposes of the invention, the expression “crystallizable chain or block” means a chain or block which, if it were obtained alone, would change from the amorphous state to the crystalline state reversibly, depending on whether one is above or below the melting point. For the purposes of the invention, a “chain” is a group of atoms, which are pendent or lateral relative to the polymer backbone. A “block” is a group of atoms belonging to the backbone, this group constituting one of the repeating units of the polymer.

According to one preferred embodiment, the semi-crystalline polymer is chosen from:

-   -   homopolymers and copolymers comprising units resulting from the         polymerization of one or more monomers bearing crystallizable         hydrophobic side chain(s),     -   polymers bearing in the backbone at least one crystallizable         block,     -   polycondensates of aliphatic or aromatic or aliphatic/aromatic         polyester type     -   copolymers of ethylene and propylene prepared via metallocene         catalysis.

The semi-crystalline polymers that may be used in the invention may in particular be chosen from:

-   -   block copolymers of polyolefins of controlled crystallization,         whose monomers are described in EP-A-0 951 897,     -   polycondensates, especially of aliphatic or aromatic or         aliphatic/aromatic polyester type,     -   copolymers of ethylene and propylene prepared via metallocene         catalysis,     -   homopolymers or copolymers bearing at least one crystallizable         side chain and homopolymers or copolymers bearing at least one         crystallizable block in the backbone, for instance those         described in document U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,911,     -   homopolymers or copolymers bearing at least one crystallizable         side chain, in particular bearing fluoro group(s), such as those         described in document WO-A-01/19333,     -   and mixtures thereof.

Examples of semi-crystalline polymers that may be mentioned include those described in patent application WO 2010/010 301.

According to one preferred embodiment, the semi-crystalline polymer is chosen from homopolymers and copolymers comprising units resulting from the polymerization of one or more monomers bearing crystallizable hydrophobic side chains, and is preferably chosen from poly(C₁₀₋₃₀)alkyl acrylates, preferably such as polystearyl acrylate, sold especially under the reference Intelimer IPA 13-1 by the company Air Products & Chemicals, and also polybehenyl acrylate, sold especially under the reference Intelimer IPA 13-6 by the company Air Products & Chemicals.

Aqueous Phase

As stated hereinabove, a composition according to the invention comprises water.

Preferably, the composition according to the invention comprises at least 2% by weight of water, preferably at least 5% by weight and preferably at least 10% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

The water may be present in a total content ranging from 2% to 80% by weight. Preferably, the water is present in a total content ranging from 15% to 50% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

The composition in accordance with the invention may comprise, besides water, at least one water-soluble solvent.

The aqueous phase may constitute the continuous phase of the composition.

The term “composition with an aqueous continuous phase” means that the composition has a conductivity, measured at 25° C., of greater than or equal to 23 μS/cm (microSiemens/cm), the conductivity being measured, for example, using an MPC227 conductimeter from Mettler Toledo and an Inlab730 conductivity measuring cell. The measuring cell is immersed in the composition so as to remove the air bubbles that might be formed between the two electrodes of the cell. The conductivity reading is taken once the conductimeter value has stabilized. A mean is determined on at least three successive measurements.

In the present invention, the term “water-soluble solvent” denotes a compound that is liquid at room temperature and water-miscible (miscibility with water of greater than 50% by weight at 25° C. and atmospheric pressure).

The water-soluble solvents which can be used in the compositions according to the invention can in addition be volatile.

Among the water-soluble solvents that may be used in the compositions in accordance with the invention, mention may be made especially of lower monoalcohols containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, such as ethanol and isopropanol, glycols containing from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol and dipropylene glycol, C₃ and C₄ ketones and C₂-C₄ aldehydes.

The aqueous phase (water and optionally the water-miscible solvent) may be present in the composition in a content ranging from 2% to 95% by weight and preferably ranging from 5% to 80% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition. In a particularly preferred manner, the aqueous phase (water and optionally the water-miscible solvent) is present in the composition in a content ranging from 10% to 60% by weight, preferably from 15% to 50% by weight and preferably from 20% to 40% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.

The aqueous phase according to the invention may also comprise at least one hydrophilic film-forming polymer and/or at least one hydrophilic thickener and/or at least one surfactant. However, the content of aqueous phase indicated previously does not include the contents of each of the abovementioned compounds.

According to one particularly preferred embodiment, the composition according to the invention is an oil-in-water emulsion.

Gemini Anionic Surfactant:

The composition according to the invention comprises at least one gemini surfactant of formula (I):

in which:

-   -   R₁ and R₃ denote, independently of one another, an alkyl radical         containing from 1 to 25 carbon atoms;     -   R₂ denotes a spacer consisting of a linear or branched alkylene         chain containing from 1 to 12 carbon atoms;     -   X and Y denote, independently of each other, a group         —(C₂H₄O)_(a)—(C₃H₆O)_(b)Z, where:     -   Z denotes a hydrogen atom or a radical —CH₂—COOM, —SO₃M,         —P(O)(OM)₂, —C₂H₄—SO₃M, —C₃H₆—SO₃M or —CH₂(CHOH)₄CH₂OH, where M         represents H or an alkali metal or alkaline-earth metal or         ammonium or alkanolammonium ion,     -   a ranges from 0 to 15,     -   b ranges from 0 to 10, and     -   the sum of a+b ranges from 1 to 25; and     -   n ranges from 1 to 10.

The gemini surfactant of formula (I) is preferably such that each of the groups R₁—CO— and R₃—CO— comprises from 8 to 20 carbon atoms, and preferably denotes a coconut fatty acid residue (comprising mainly lauric acid and myristic acid).

In addition, this surfactant is preferably such that, for each of the X and Y radicals, the sum of a and b has an average value ranging from 10 to 20 and is preferably equal to 15. A preferred group for Z is the group —SO₃M, where M is preferably an alkali metal ion such as a sodium ion.

The spacer R₂ advantageously consists of a linear C₁-C₃ alkylene chain, and preferably an ethylene (CH₂CH₂) chain.

Finally, n is advantageously equal to 1.

A surfactant of this type is in particular the one identified by the INCI name: Sodium dicocoylethylenediamine PEG-15 sulfate, having the following structure:

it being understood that PEG represents the CH₂CH₂O group and cocoyl represents the coconut fatty acid residue.

This surfactant has a molecular structure very similar to that of ceramide-3.

Preferably, the gemini surfactant according to the invention is used as a mixture with other surfactants, and in particular as a mixture with (a) an ester of a C₆-C₂₂ fatty acid (preferably C₁₄-C₂₀ such as a stearate) and of glyceryl, (b) a diester of a C₆-C₂₂ fatty acid (preferably C₁₄-C₂₀ such as a stearate) and of citric acid and of glycerol (in particular a diester of a C₆-C₂₂ fatty acid and of glyceryl monocitrate), and (c) a C₁₀-C₃₀ fatty alcohol (preferably behenyl alcohol).

Advantageously, the composition according to the invention comprises a mixture of sodium dicocoylethylenediamine PEG-15 sulfate, of glyceryl stearate, of glyceryl stearate monocitrate, of behenyl alcohol.

More preferentially, the gemini surfactant according to the invention represents from 10 to 20% by weight, and advantageously 15% by weight; the ester of a C₆-C₂₂ fatty acid and of glyceryl represents from 30 to 40% by weight, advantageously 35% by weight; the diester of a C₆-C₂₂ fatty acid and of citric acid and of glycerol represents from 10 to 20% by weight, advantageously 15% by weight; and the C₁₀-C₃₀ fatty alcohol represents from 30 to 40% by weight, advantageously 35% by weight, relative to the total weight of the mixture of surfactants containing the gemini surfactant.

Advantageously, the composition according to the invention comprises a mixture of from 10 to 20% by weight of sodium dicocoylethylenediamine PEG-15 sulfate, from 30 to 40% (in particular 35%) by weight of glyceryl stearate, from 10 to 20% (in particular 15%) by weight of glyceryl stearate monocitrate and from 30 to 40% (in particular 35%) by weight of behenyl alcohol, relative to the total weight of the mixture of surfactants comprising the gemini surfactant.

As a variant, the gemini surfactant according to the invention may be used as a mixture with an anionic surfactant, such as an ester of lauric acid, sodium lauroyl lactate. In this case, the gemini surfactant preferably represents from 30% to 50% by weight, and the anionic surfactant represents from 50% to 70% by weight, relative to the total weight of the mixture.

The gemini surfactant may be used, for example, as a mixture with other surfactants in the form of the products sold by Sasol under the Ceralution® names, in particular the following products:

-   -   Ceralution® H: Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl         Stearate Citrate and Sodium Dicocoylethylenediamine PEG-15         Sulfate,     -   Ceralution® F: Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate and Sodium         Dicocoylethylenediamine PEG-15 Sulfate,     -   Ceralution® C: Aqua, Capric/Caprylic triglyceride, Glycerin,         Ceteareth-25, Sodium Dicocoylethylenediamine PEG-15 Sulfate,         Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate,         Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Gum Arabic, Xanthan Gum,         Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben,         Isobutylparaben (INCI names).

This gemini surfactant represents from 3 to 50% of the weight of these mixtures.

Preferably, the composition comprises as gemini surfactant the compound whose INCI name is Behenyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, glyceryl stearate citrate and sodium dicocoylethylenediamine PEG-15 sulfate, sold under the name Ceralution® H by the company Sasol.

The gemini surfactant of formula (I) (or the mixture of surfactants comprising the gemini surfactants of formula (I) described previously) may be present in a composition according to the invention in a content ranging from 0.1% to 20% by weight, preferably ranging from 0.5% to 15% by weight and better still ranging from 1% to 10% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

Preferably, the content of gemini surfactant of formula (I) (or mixture of surfactants comprising the gemini surfactants of formula (I) described previously) in a composition according to the invention is between 1% and 5% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.

Preferably, the content of gemini surfactant of formula (I) (or mixture of surfactants comprising the gemini surfactants of formula (I) described previously) in a composition according to the invention is between 1.5% and 3% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.

Additional Surfactant:

Preferably, the composition according to the invention comprises at least one additional surfactant other than the said gemini surfactant, chosen from nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants and anionic surfactants.

Preferably, the composition is such that the additional surfactant is present in a content ranging from 0.1% to 20% by weight, preferably from 0.5% to 15% by weight, preferably ranging from 1% to 10% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

Advantageously, the total content of surfactants is such that the non-volatile oils/total content of surfactant(s) weight ratio is between 1 and 40 and preferably between 3 and 35.

Preferably, the surfactant(s) are present in a total content of non-volatile oils/content of surfactant(s) weight ratio of between 4 and 25.

An additional emulsifying surfactant appropriately chosen to obtain an oil-in-water emulsion is preferably used.

In particular, an emulsifying surfactant having at 25° C. an HLB balance (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance) within the Griffin sense of greater than or equal to 8 may be used.

An emulsifying surfactant having at 25° C. an HLB balance (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance) within the Griffin sense of less than 8 may also be used.

The Griffin HLB value is defined in J. Soc. Cosm. Chem. 1954 (volume 5), pages 249-256.

These additional surfactants may be chosen from nonionic, anionic, cationic and amphoteric surfactants, and mixtures thereof. Reference may be made to Kirk-Othmer's Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Volume 22, pp. 333-432, 3rd Edition, 1979, Wiley, for the definition of the emulsifying properties and functions of surfactants, in particular pp. 347-377 of this reference, for the anionic, amphoteric and nonionic surfactants.

According to a first embodiment, the composition comprises at least one additional hydrocarbon-based surfactant.

Examples of hydrocarbon-based surfactants that are suitable for use in the invention are described below.

Nonionic Additional Surfactants

Preferably, the additional surfactant is chosen from nonionic surfactants.

The additional nonionic surfactants may be chosen especially from alkyl and polyalkyl esters of poly(ethylene oxide), oxyalkylenated alcohols, alkyl and polyalkyl ethers of poly(ethylene oxide), optionally polyoxyethylenated alkyl and polyalkyl esters of sorbitan, optionally polyoxyethylenated alkyl and polyalkyl ethers of sorbitan, alkyl and polyalkyl glycosides or polyglycosides, in particular alkyl and polyalkyl glucosides or polyglucosides, alkyl and polyalkyl esters of sucrose, optionally polyoxyethylenated alkyl and polyalkyl esters of glycerol, optionally polyoxyethylenated alkyl and polyalkyl ethers of glycerol, cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol, and mixtures thereof.

1) Alkyl and polyalkyl esters of poly(ethylene oxide) that are preferably used include those with a number of ethylene oxide (EO) units ranging from 2 to 200. Examples that may be mentioned include stearate 40 EO, stearate 50 EO, stearate 100 EO, laurate 20 EO, laurate 40 EO and distearate 150 EO.

2) Alkyl and polyalkyl ethers of poly(ethylene oxide) that are preferably used include those with a number of ethylene oxide (EO) units ranging from 2 to 200. Examples that may be mentioned include cetyl ether 23 EO, oleyl ether 50 EO, phytosterol 30 EO, steareth 40, steareth 100 and beheneth 100.

3) As oxyalkylenated alcohols, which are in particular oxyethylenated and/or oxypropylenated, use is preferably made of those that can comprise from 1 to 150 oxyethylene and/or oxypropylene units, in particular containing from 20 to 100 oxyethylene units, in particular ethoxylated fatty alcohols, especially of C₈-C₂₄ and preferably of C₁₂-C₁₈, which may or may not be ethoxylated, for instance stearyl alcohol ethoxylated with 20 oxyethylene units (CTFA name Steareth-20), for instance Brij 78 sold by the company Uniqema or Brij S20-PA-(SG) sold by the company Croda, cetearyl alcohol ethoxylated with 30 oxyethylene units (CTFA name Ceteareth-30), and the mixture of C₁₂-C₁₅ fatty alcohols comprising 7 oxyethylene units (CTFA name C₁₂-C₁₅ Pareth-7), for instance the product sold under the name Neodol 25-7® by Shell Chemicals; or in particular oxyalkylenated (oxyethylenated and/or oxypropylenated) alcohols containing from 1 to 15 oxyethylene and/or oxypropylene units, in particular ethoxylated C₈-C₂₄ and preferably C₁₂-C₁₈ fatty alcohols, such as stearyl alcohol ethoxylated with 2 oxyethylene units (CTFA name Steareth-2), for instance Brij 72 sold by the company Uniqema;

4) Optionally polyoxyethylenated alkyl and polyalkyl esters of sorbitan that are preferably used include those with a number of ethylene oxide (EO) units ranging from 0 to 100. Examples that may be mentioned include sorbitan laurate 4 or 20 EO, in particular polysorbate 20 (or polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate) such as the product Tween 20 sold by the company Uniqema, sorbitan palmitate 20 EO, sorbitan stearate 20 EO, sorbitan oleate 20 EO, or the Cremophor products (RH 40, RH 60, etc.) from BASF. Mention may also be made of the mixture of sorbitan stearate and sucrose cocoate (sold under the name Arlacel 2121U-FL from Croda).

5) Optionally polyoxyethylenated alkyl and polyalkyl ethers of sorbitan that are preferably used include those with a number of ethylene oxide (EO) units ranging from 0 to 100.

6) Alkyl and polyalkyl glucosides or polyglucosides that are preferably used include those containing an alkyl group comprising from 6 to 30 carbon atoms and preferably from 6 to 18 or even from 8 to 16 carbon atoms, and containing a glucoside group preferably comprising from 1 to 5 and especially 1, 2 or 3 glucoside units. The alkylpolyglucosides may be chosen, for example, from decylglucoside (alkyl-C₉/C₁₁-polyglucoside (1.4)), for instance the product sold under the name Mydol 10® by the company Kao Chemicals or the product sold under the name Plantacare 2000 UP® by the company Henkel and the product sold under the name Oramix NS 10® by the company SEPPIC; caprylyl/capryl glucoside, for instance the product sold under the name Plantacare KE 3711® by the company Cognis or Oramix CG 110® by the company SEPPIC; laurylglucoside, for instance the product sold under the name Plantacare 1200 UP® by the company Henkel or Plantaren 1200 N® by the company Henkel; cocoglucoside, for instance the product sold under the name Plantacare 818 UP® by the company Henkel; caprylylglucoside, for instance the product sold under the name Plantacare 810 UP® by the company Cognis; the mixture of arachidyl glucoside and behenyl alcohol and arachidyl alcohol, whose INCI name is Arachidyl alcohol (and) behenyl alcohol (and) arachidyl glucoside, sold under the name Montanov 202 by the company SEPPIC; and mixtures thereof. More generally, the surfactants of alkylpolyglycoside type are defined more specifically hereinbelow.

7) As alkyl and polyalkyl esters of sucrose, in particular C12-C26 alkyl esters, examples that may be mentioned include sucrose stearate, sold especially under the name Tegosoft PSE 141 G by the company Evonik Goldschmidt, the mixture of sorbitan stearate and sucrose cocoate (sold under the name Arlatone Arlacel 2121 U-FL from Croda), Crodesta F150, the sucrose monolaurate sold under the name Crodesta SL 40, and the products sold by Ryoto Sugar Ester, for instance the sucrose palmitate sold under the references Ryoto Sugar Ester P 1670, Ryoto Sugar Ester LWA 1695 and Ryoto Sugar Ester 01570.

8) Optionally polyoxyethylenated alkyl and polyalkyl esters of glycerol that are preferably used include those with a number of ethylene oxide (EO) units ranging from 0 to 100 and a number of glycerol units ranging from 1 to 30. Examples that may be mentioned include PEG-150 distearate sold under the reference Kessco PEG 6000 DS by the company Italmatch Chemicals Arese, hexaglyceryl monolaurate and PEG-30 glyceryl stearate.

9) Optionally polyoxyethylenated alkyl and polyalkyl ethers of glycerol that are preferably used include those with a number of ethylene oxide (EO) units ranging from 0 to 100 and a number of glycerol units ranging from 1 to 30. Examples that may be mentioned include Nikkol batyl alcohol 100 and Nikkol chimyl alcohol 100;

10) cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol;

11) and mixtures thereof.

According to one preferred embodiment, the additional surfactant is chosen from oxyalkylenated and in particular oxyethylenated and/or oxypropylenated alcohols; use is preferably made of those that can comprise from 1 to 150 oxyethylene and/or oxypropylene units, in particular containing from 20 to 100 oxyethylene units, in particular ethoxylated fatty alcohols, especially of C₈-C₂₄ and preferably of C₁₂-C₁₈, which may or may not be ethoxylated, for instance stearyl alcohol ethoxylated with 20 oxyethylene units (CTFA name Steareth-20), for instance Brij 78 sold by the company Uniqema, cetearyl alcohol ethoxylated with 30 oxyethylene units (CTFA name Ceteareth-30), and the mixture of C₁₂-C₁₅ fatty alcohols comprising 7 oxyethylene units (CTFA name C₁₂-C₁₅ Pareth-7), for instance the product sold under the name Neodol 25-7® by Shell Chemicals; or in particular oxyalkylenated (oxyethylenated and/or oxypropylenated) alcohols containing from 1 to 15 oxyethylene and/or oxypropylene units, in particular ethoxylated C₈-C₂₄ and preferably C₁₂-C₁₈ fatty alcohols, such as stearyl alcohol ethoxylated with 20 oxyethylene units (CTFA name Steareth-20), for instance Brij 72 sold by the company Uniqema or Brij S20-PA-(SG) sold by the company Croda; stearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol, and mixtures thereof. The additional surfactant is particularly preferably chosen from Steareth-20, stearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol, and mixtures thereof.

The additional surfactant is particularly preferably stearyl alcohol ethoxylated with 20 oxyethylene units.

Advantageously, the content of gemini surfactants and of additional surfactant is such that the weight ratio of the content of gemini surfactants/content of additional surfactant(s) (preferably of stearyl alcohol ethoxylated with 20 oxyethylene units) is between 0.1 and 10 and preferably between 0.3 and 5.

Advantageously, the content of gemini surfactant and of stearyl alcohol ethoxylated with 20 oxyethylene units is such that the weight ratio of the content of gemini surfactants/content of stearyl alcohol ethoxylated with 20 oxyethylene units is between 0.5 and 10 and preferably between 1 and 5.

Anionic Surfactants

According to another embodiment, the additional surfactant may be chosen from anionic surfactants.

The additional anionic surfactants may be chosen from alkyl ether sulfates, carboxylates, amino acid derivatives, sulfonates, isethionates, taurates, sulfosuccinates, alkylsulfoacetates, phosphates and alkyl phosphates, polypeptides, metal salts of C₁₀-C₃₀ and especially C₁₆-C₂₅ fatty acids, in particular metal stearates and behenates, and mixtures thereof.

1) Examples of alkyl ether sulfates that may be mentioned include sodium lauryl ether sulfate (70/30 C12-14) (2.2 EO) sold under the names Sipon AOS225 or Texapon N702 by the company Henkel, ammonium lauryl ether sulfate (70/30 C12-14) (3 EO) sold under the name Sipon LEA 370 by the company Henkel, ammonium (C₁₂-C₁₄) alkyl ether (9 EO) sulfate sold under the name Rhodapex AB/20 by the company Rhodia Chimie, and the mixture of sodium magnesium lauryl oleyl ether sulfate sold under the name Empicol BSD 52 by the company Albright & Wilson.

2) Examples of carboxylates that may be mentioned include salts (for example alkali metal salts) of N-acylamino acids, glycol carboxylates, amido ether carboxylates (AEC) and polyoxyethylenated carboxylic acid salts.

The surfactant of glycol carboxylate type may be chosen from alkyl glycol carboxylates or 2-(2-hydroxyalkyloxy acetate), salts thereof and mixtures thereof. These alkyl glycol carboxylics comprise a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic and/or aromatic alkyl chain containing from 8 to 18 carbon atoms. These carboxylics may be neutralized with mineral bases such as potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide.

Examples of surfactants of glycol carboxylic type that may be mentioned include sodium lauryl glycol carboxylate or sodium 2-(2-hydroxyalkyloxy acetate) such as the product sold under the name Beaulight Shaa® by the company Sanyo, Beaulight LCA-25N® or the corresponding acid from Beaulight Shaa (Acid form)®.

An example of an amido ether carboxylate (AEC) that may be mentioned is sodium lauryl amido ether carboxylate (3 EO) sold under the name Akypo Foam 30® by the company Kao Chemicals.

Examples of polyoxyethylenated carboxylic acid salts that may be mentioned include oxyethylenated (6 EO) sodium lauryl ether carboxylate (65/25/10 C₁₂₋₁₄₋₁₆) sold under the name Akypo Soft 45 NV® by the company Kao Chemicals, polyoxyethylenated and carboxymethylated fatty acids of olive oil origin sold under the name Olivem 400® by the company Biologia e Tecnologia, and oxyethylenated (6 EO) sodium tridecyl ether carboxylate sold under the name Nikkol ECTD-6 NEX® by the company Nikkol.

3) Amino acid derivatives that may especially be mentioned include alkali metal salts of amino acids, such as:

-   -   sarcosinates, for instance the sodium lauroyl sarcosinate sold         under the name Sarkosyl NL 97® by the company Ciba or sold under         the name Oramix L30® by the company SEPPIC, sodium myristoyl         sarcosinate sold under the name Nikkol Sarcosinate MN® by the         company Nikkol, and sodium palmitoyl sarcosinate sold under the         name Nikkol Sarcosinate PN®, by the company Nikkol;     -   alaninates, for instance sodium N-lauroyl N-methyl         amidopropionate sold under the name Sodium Nikkol Alaninate         LN300 by the company Nikkol, or sold under the name Alanone         ALE®, by the company Kawaken, and triethanolamine N-lauroyl         N-methyl alanine sold under the name Alanone Alta® by the         company Kawaken;     -   glutamates, for instance triethanolamine monococoyl glutamate         sold under the name Acylglutamate CT-12® by the company         Ajinomoto, or triethanolamine lauroyl glutamate sold under the         name Acylglutamate LT-12® by the company Ajinomoto; and mixtures         thereof, for instance the mixture of Palmitoyl proline (and)         sodium palmitoyl sarcosinate (and) magnesium palmitoyl         glutamate, sold especially under the reference Sepifeel One by         the company SEPPIC.

The glutamic acid salts and/or derivatives are described more specifically hereinbelow.

-   -   aspartates, for instance the mixture of triethanolamine         N-lauroyl aspartate and of triethanolamine N-myristoyl         aspartate, sold under the name Asparack® by the company         Mitsubishi;     -   glycine derivatives (glycinates), for instance the sodium         N-cocoyl glycinate sold under the names Amilite GCS-12® and         Amilite GCK 12 by the company Ajinomoto;     -   citrates, such as the oxyethylenated (9 mol) citric monoester of         cocoyl alcohols sold under the name Witconol EC 1129 by the         company Goldschmidt;     -   galacturonates, such as the sodium dodecyl-D-galactoside uronate         sold by the company Soliance.

4) Examples of sulfonates that may be mentioned include α-olefin sulfonates, for instance the sodium α-olefin sulfonate (C₁₄₋₁₆) sold under the name Bio-Terge AS-40® by the company Stepan, sold under the names Witconate AOS Protégé® and Sulframine AOS PH 12® by the company Witco or sold under the name Bio-Terge AS-40 CG® by the company Stepan, the sodium secondary olefin sulfonate sold under the name Hostapur SAS 30® by the company Clariant.

5) Isethionates that may be mentioned include acylisethionates, for instance sodium cocoylisethionate, such as the product sold under the name Jordapon CI P® by the company Jordan.

6) Taurates that may be mentioned include the sodium salt of palm kernel oil methyltaurate sold under the name Hostapon CT Pate® by the company Clariant; N-acyl N-methyltaurates, for instance the sodium N-cocoyl N-methyltaurate sold under the name Hostapon LT-SF® by the company Clariant or sold under the name Nikkol CMT-30-T® by the company Nikkol, and the sodium palmitoyl methyltaurate sold under the name Nikkol PMT® by the company Nikkol.

7) Examples of sulfosuccinates that may be mentioned include the oxyethylenated (3 EO) lauryl alcohol monosulfosuccinate (70/30 C₁₂/C₁₄) sold under the names Setacin 103 Special® and Rewopol SB-FA 30 K 4® by the company Witco, the disodium salt of a C₁₂-C₁₄ alkyl hemisulfosuccinate, sold under the name Setacin F Special Paste® by the company Zschimmer Schwarz, the oxyethylenated (2 EO) disodium oleamidosulfosuccinate sold under the name Standapol SH 135® by the company Henkel, the oxyethylenated (5 EO) laurylamide monosulfosuccinate sold under the name Lebon A-5000® by the company Sanyo, the oxyethylenated (10 EO) disodium salt of lauryl citrate monosulfosuccinate sold under the name Rewopol SB CS 50® by the company Witco, and the ricinoleic monoethanolamide monosulfosuccinate sold under the name Rewoderm S 1333® by the company Witco. Polydimethylsiloxane sulfosuccinates may also be used, such as disodium PEG-12 dimethicone sulfosuccinate sold under the name Mackanate-DC30 by the company Maclntyre.

8) Examples of alkyl sulfoacetates that may be mentioned include the mixture of sodium lauryl sulfoacetate and disodium lauryl ether sulfosuccinate, sold under the name Stepan Mild LSB by the company Stepan.

9) Examples of phosphates and alkyl phosphates that may be mentioned include monoalkyl phosphates and dialkyl phosphates, such as the lauryl monophosphate sold under the name MAP 20® by the company Kao Chemicals, the potassium salt of dodecylphosphoric acid, mixture of monoester and diester (predominantly diester) sold under the name Crafol AP-31® by the company Cognis, the mixture of octylphosphoric acid monoester and diester sold under the name Crafol AP-20® by the company Cognis, the mixture of ethoxylated (7 mol of EO) phosphoric acid diester of 2-butyloctanol, sold under the name Isofol 12 7 EO-Phosphate Ester® by the company Condea, the potassium or triethanolamine salt of mono(C₁₂-C₁₃)alkyl phosphate sold under the references Arlatone MAP 230K-40® and Arlatone MAP 230T-60® by the company Uniqema, the potassium lauryl phosphate sold under the name Dermalcare MAP XC-99/09® by the company Rhodia Chimie, and the potassium cetyl phosphate sold under the name Arlatone MAP 160K by the company Uniqema.

10) The polypeptides are obtained, for example, by condensation of a fatty chain onto amino acids from cereals and especially from wheat and oat. Examples of polypeptides that may be mentioned include the potassium salt of hydrolysed lauroyl wheat protein, sold under the name Aminofoam W OR by the company Croda, the triethanolamine salt of hydrolysed cocoyl soybean protein, sold under the name May-Tein SY by the company Maybrook, the sodium salt of lauroyl oat amino acids, sold under the name Proteol Oat by the company SEPPIC, collagen hydrolysate grafted onto coconut fatty acid, sold under the name Geliderm 3000 by the company Deutsche Gelatine, and soybean proteins acylated with hydrogenated coconut acids, sold under the name Proteol VS 22 by the company SEPPIC.

11) Metal salts of C₁₀-C₃₀ and preferably C₁₆-C₂₅ fatty acids that may be mentioned in particular include metal behenates, such as sodium behenate, and metal stearates, such as sodium stearate, sold especially under the reference Vegetable sodium stearate 35/65 from FACI, and potassium stearate, and also polyhydroxy stearates;

12) and mixtures thereof.

Cationic Surfactants

According to another embodiment, the additional surfactant may be chosen from cationic surfactants.

The additional cationic surfactants may be chosen from:

-   -   alkylimidazolidiniums such as isostearylethylimidonium         ethosulfate,     -   ammonium salts such as (C₁₂₋₃₀ alkyl)tri(C₁₋₄ alkyl)ammonium         halides, for instance N,N,N-trimethyl-1-docosanaminium chloride         (or behentrimonium chloride).

The compositions according to the invention may also contain one or more amphoteric surfactants, for instance N-acylamino acids such as N-alkyl amino acetates and disodium cocoamphodiacetate, and amine oxides such as stearamine oxide, or alternatively silicone surfactants, for instance dimethicone copolyol phosphates such as the product sold under the name Pecosil PS 100® by the company Phoenix Chemical.

According to a second embodiment, the composition comprises at least one silicone surfactant. Examples that may be mentioned include:

a) nonionic surfactants with an HLB of greater than or equal to 8 at 25° C., used alone or as a mixture; mention may be made especially of:

-   -   dimethicone copolyol, such as the product sold under the name         Q2-5220® by the company Dow Corning;     -   dimethicone copolyol benzoate, such as the product sold under         the names Finsolv SLB 101® and 201® by the company Fintex;

b) nonionic surfactants with an HLB of greater than or equal to 8 at 25° C., used alone or as a mixture; mention may be made especially of:

-   -   the mixture of cyclomethicone/dimethicone copolyol sold under         the name Q2-3225C® by the company Dow Corning.         Hydrophilic Gelling Polymers

Preferably, the composition according to the invention comprises at least one hydrophilic gelling agent, preferably chosen from associative polymers.

Preferably, the composition is such that the hydrophilic gelling agent (preferably an associative polymer), if present, is in a content ranging from 0.1% to 10% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

For the purposes of the present patent application, the term “polymer for gelling the aqueous phase” means a polymer that is capable of gelling the aqueous phase of the compositions according to the invention.

The gelling polymer that may be used according to the invention may especially be characterized by its capacity to form in water, beyond a certain concentration C*, a gel characterized by oscillatory rheology (μ=1 Hz) by a flow threshold τ_(c) at least equal to 10 Pa. This concentration C* may vary widely according to the nature of the gelling polymer under consideration.

By way of illustration, this concentration is between 1% and 2% by weight for an acrylamide/sodium acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate copolymer as an inverse emulsion at 40% in polysorbate 80/I-C16, for instance the product sold under the name Simulgel 600 by the company SEPPIC, and is about 0.5% by weight for an AMPS/ethoxylated (25 EO) cetearyl methacrylate copolymer crosslinked with trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) of the type such as Aristoflex HMS.

The gelling polymer may be present in the composition in an amount that is sufficient to adjust the stiffness modulus G* (1 Hz, 25° C.) of the composition to a value greater than or equal to 10 000 Pa and especially ranging from 10 000 Pa to 100 000 Pa. The method for measuring the stiffness modulus G* (1 Hz, 25° C.) of the composition is described in greater detail hereinbelow.

The gelling polymer is a hydrophilic polymer and is thus present in the aqueous phase of the composition.

More particularly, this gelling polymer may be chosen from:

-   -   acrylic or methacrylic acid homopolymers or copolymers or salts         and esters thereof and in particular the products sold under the         names Versicol F or Versicol K by the company Allied Colloid,         Ultrahold 8 by the company Ciba-Geigy, and polyacrylic acids of         Synthalen K type, and salts, especially sodium salts, of         polyacrylic acids (corresponding to the INCI name sodium         acrylate copolymer) and more particularly a crosslinked sodium         polyacrylate (corresponding to the INCI name sodium acrylate         copolymer (and) caprylic/capric triglycerides) sold under the         name Luvigel EM by the company,     -   copolymers of acrylic acid and of acrylamide sold in the form of         the sodium salt thereof under the names Reten by the company         Hercules, the sodium polymethacrylate sold under the name Darvan         No. 7 by the company Vanderbilt, and the sodium salts of         polyhydroxycarboxylic acids sold under the name Hydagen F by the         company Henkel,     -   polyacrylic acid/alkyl acrylate copolymers, preferably modified         or unmodified carboxyvinyl polymers; the copolymers most         particularly preferred according to the present invention are         acrylate/C₁₀-C₃₀-alkylacrylate copolymers (INCI name:         Acrylates/C₁₀₋₃₀ Alkyl acrylate Crosspolymer) such as the         products sold by the company Lubrizol under the trade names         Pemulen TR1, Pemulen TR2, Carbopol 1382 and Carbopol EDT 2020,         and even more preferentially Pemulen TR-2;     -   AMPS (polyacrylamidomethylpropanesulfonic acid partially         neutralized with aqueous ammonia and highly crosslinked) sold by         the company Clariant,     -   AMPS/acrylamide copolymers of Sepigel or Simulgel type sold by         the company SEPPIC, and     -   polyoxyethylenated AMPS/alkyl methacrylate copolymers         (crosslinked or non-crosslinked) of the type such as Aristoflex         HMS sold by the company Clariant,     -   and mixtures thereof.

Other examples of hydrophilic gelling polymers that may be mentioned include:

-   -   anionic, cationic, amphoteric or nonionic chitin or chitosan         polymers;     -   cellulose polymers, other than alkylcellulose, chosen from         hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose,         hydroxymethylcellulose, ethylhydroxyethylcellulose and         carboxymethylcellulose, and also quaternized cellulose         derivatives;     -   vinyl polymers, for instance polyvinylpyrrolidones, copolymers         of methyl vinyl ether and of malic anhydride, the copolymer of         vinyl acetate and of crotonic acid, copolymers of         vinylpyrrolidone and of vinyl acetate; copolymers of         vinylpyrrolidone and of caprolactam; polyvinyl alcohol;     -   optionally modified polymers of natural origin, such as:         galactomannans and derivatives thereof, such as konjac gum,         gellan gum, locust bean gum, fenugreek gum, karaya gum, gum         tragacanth, gum arabic, acacia gum, guar gum, hydroxypropyl         guar, hydroxypropyl guar modified with sodium methylcarboxylate         groups (Jaguar XC97-1, Rhodia), hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium         guar chloride, and xanthan derivatives;     -   alginates and carrageenans;     -   glycoaminoglycans, hyaluronic acid and derivatives thereof;     -   deoxyribonucleic acid;     -   mucopolysaccharides such as hyaluronic acid and chondroitin         sulfates, and mixtures thereof.

According to one preferred embodiment, the gelling polymer is chosen from acrylic or methacrylic acid homopolymers or copolymers or salts and esters thereof, polyacrylic acids and polyacrylic acid salts, or mixtures thereof.

According to one preferred embodiment, the gelling polymer is a sodium salt of polyacrylic acid, especially a crosslinked sodium polyacrylate.

According to one particularly preferred embodiment, the gelling agent is chosen from associative polymers.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term “associative polymer” means any amphiphilic polymer comprising in its structure at least one fatty chain and at least one hydrophilic portion. The associative polymers in accordance with the present invention may be anionic, cationic, nonionic or amphoteric.

Associative Anionic Polymers

Among the associative anionic polymers that may be mentioned are those comprising at least one hydrophilic unit, and at least one fatty-chain allyl ether unit, more particularly those whose hydrophilic unit is formed by an unsaturated ethylenic anionic monomer, advantageously by a vinylcarboxylic acid and most particularly by an acrylic acid or a methacrylic acid or mixtures thereof, and whose fatty-chain allyl ether unit corresponds to the monomer of formula (I) below: CH₂═C(R′)CH₂OB_(n)R  (I)

in which R′ denotes H or CH₃, B denotes the ethylenoxy radical, n is zero or denotes an integer ranging from 1 to 100, R denotes a hydrocarbon-based radical chosen from alkyl, arylalkyl, aryl, alkylaryl and cycloalkyl radicals, comprising from 8 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably 10 to 24 and even more particularly from 12 to 18 carbon atoms.

Anionic amphiphilic polymers of this type are described and prepared, according to an emulsion polymerization process, in patent EP-0 216 479.

Among the associative anionic polymers that may also be mentioned are maleic anhydride/C₃₀-C₃₈ α-olefin/alkyl maleate terpolymers, such as the product (maleic anhydride/C₃₀-C₃₈ α-olefin/isopropyl maleate copolymer) sold under the name Performa V 1608 by the company Newphase Technologies.

Among the associative anionic polymers, use may be made, according to one preferred embodiment, of copolymers comprising among their monomers an α,β-monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and an ester of an α,β-monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and of an oxyalkylenated fatty alcohol.

Preferentially, these compounds also comprise as monomer an ester of an α,β-monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and of a C₁-C₄ alcohol.

Examples of compounds of this type that may be mentioned include Aculyn 22® sold by the company Röhm & Haas, which is a methacrylic acid/ethyl acrylate/oxyalkylenated stearyl methacrylate (comprising 20 OE units) terpolymer or Aculyn 28 (methacrylic acid/ethyl acrylate/oxyethylenated behenyl methacrylate (25 OE) terpolymer).

Examples of associative anionic polymers that may also be mentioned include anionic polymers comprising at least one hydrophilic unit of unsaturated olefinic carboxylic acid type, and at least one hydrophobic unit exclusively of the type such as a (C₁₀-C₃₀) alkyl ester of an unsaturated carboxylic acid. Examples that may be mentioned include the anionic polymers described and prepared according to U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,915,921 and 4,509,949.

Cationic Associative Polymers

Cationic associative polymers that may be mentioned include quaternized cellulose derivatives and polyacrylates bearing amine side groups.

The quaternized cellulose derivatives are, in particular:

-   -   quaternized celluloses modified with groups comprising at least         one fatty chain, such as alkyl, arylalkyl or alkylaryl groups         comprising at least 8 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof,     -   quaternized hydroxyethylcelluloses modified with groups         comprising at least one fatty chain, such as alkyl, arylalkyl or         alkylaryl groups comprising at least 8 carbon atoms, or mixtures         thereof.

The polyacrylates bearing quaternized or non-quaternized amine side groups contain, for example, hydrophobic groups of the type such as steareth-20 (polyoxyethylenated (20) stearyl alcohol).

The alkyl radicals borne by the above quaternized celluloses or hydroxyethylcelluloses preferably comprise from 8 to 30 carbon atoms. The aryl radicals preferably denote phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl or anthryl groups.

Examples of quaternized alkylhydroxyethylcelluloses containing C₈-C₃₀ fatty chains that may be indicated include the products Quatrisoft LM 200, Quatrisoft LM-X 529-18-A, Quatrisoft LM-X 529-18B (C₁₂ alkyl) and Quatrisoft LM-X 529-8 (C₁₈ alkyl) sold by the company Amerchol and the products Crodacel QM, Crodacel QL (C₁₂ alkyl) and Crodacel QS (C₁₈ alkyl) sold by the company Croda.

Examples of polyacrylates bearing amino side chains that may be mentioned are the polymers 8781-121B or 9492-103 from the company National Starch.

Nonionic Associative Polymers

The nonionic associative polymers may be chosen from:

-   -   celluloses modified with groups comprising at least one fatty         chain, for instance hydroxyethylcelluloses modified with groups         comprising at least one fatty chain, such as alkyl groups,         especially of C₈-C₂₂, arylalkyl and alkylaryl groups, such as         Natrosol Plus Grade 330 CS(C₁₆ alkyls) sold by the company         Aqualon,     -   celluloses modified with alkylphenyl polyalkylene glycol ether         groups, such as the product Amercell Polymer HM-1500         (nonylphenyl polyethylene glycol (15) ether) sold by the company         Amerchol,     -   guars such as hydroxypropyl guar, modified with groups         comprising at least one fatty chain such as an alkyl chain,     -   copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone and of fatty-chain hydrophobic         monomers,     -   copolymers of C₁-C₆ alkyl methacrylates or acrylates and of         amphiphilic monomers comprising at least one fatty chain,     -   copolymers of hydrophilic methacrylates or acrylates and of         hydrophobic monomers comprising at least one fatty chain, for         instance the polyethylene glycol methacrylate/lauryl         methacrylate copolymer,     -   associative polyurethanes.

Associative polyurethanes are nonionic block copolymers comprising in the chain both hydrophilic blocks usually of polyoxyethylene nature (polyurethanes may also be referred to as polyurethane polyethers), and hydrophobic blocks that may be aliphatic sequences alone and/or cycloaliphatic and/or aromatic sequences.

In particular, these polymers comprise at least two hydrocarbon-based lipophilic chains containing from 6 to 30 carbon atoms, separated by a hydrophilic block, the hydrocarbon-based chains possibly being pendent chains or chains at the end of the hydrophilic block. In particular, it is possible for one or more pendent chains to be envisaged. In addition, the polymer may comprise a hydrocarbon-based chain at one end or at both ends of a hydrophilic block.

Associative polyurethanes may be block polymers, in triblock or multiblock form. The hydrophobic blocks may thus be at each end of the chain (for example: triblock copolymer containing a hydrophilic central block) or distributed both at the ends and in the chain (for example: multiblock copolymer). These polymers may also be graft polymers or star polymers. Preferably, the associative polyurethanes are triblock copolymers in which the hydrophilic block is a polyoxyethylene chain comprising from 50 to 1000 oxyethylene groups. In general, associative polyurethanes comprise a urethane bond between the hydrophilic blocks, whence arises the name.

According to one preferred embodiment, a nonionic associative polymer of polyurethane type is used as gelling agent.

As examples of nonionic polyurethane polyethers that may not be used in the invention, mention may be made of the polymer C₁₆-OE₁₂₀-C₁₆ from the company Servo Delden (under the name SER AD FX1100, which is a molecule containing a urethane function and having a weight-average molecular weight of 1300), OE being an oxyethylene unit. Rheolate 205 bearing a urea function, sold by the company Rheox, or Rheolate 208 or 204, or alternatively Rheolate FX 1100 by Elementis, may also be used as associative polyurethane polymer. These associative polyurethanes are sold in pure form. The product DW 1206B from Röhm & Haas containing a C₂₀ alkyl chain and a urethane bond, sold at a solids content of 20% in water, may also be used.

It is also possible to use solutions or dispersions of these polymers, in particular in water or in aqueous-alcoholic medium. Examples of such polymers that may be mentioned include SER AD FX1010, SER AD FX1035 and SER AD 1070 from the company Servo Delden, and Rheolate 255, Rheolate 278 and Rheolate 244 sold by the company Rheox. It is also possible to use the products Aculyn 46, DW 1206F and DW 1206J, and also Acrysol RM 184 or Acrysol 44 from the company Röhm & Haas, or alternatively Borchigel LW 44 from the company Borchers, and mixtures thereof.

According to one preferred embodiment, the hydrophilic gelling agent is chosen from:

-   -   optionally modified hydroxypropyl guar, in particular         hydroxypropyl guar modified with sodium methylcarboxylate groups         (Jaguar XC97-1, Rhodia) or hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium guar         chloride,     -   vinyl polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol,     -   anionic associative polymers derived from (meth)acrylic acid,         such as the non-crosslinked copolymer obtained from methacrylic         acid and steareth-20 methacrylate, sold under the name Aculyn 22         by Röhm & Haas,     -   nonionic associative polymers of polyurethane polyether type,         such as Steareth-100/PEG-136/HDI Copolymer sold under the name         Rheolate FX 1100 by Elementis.

According to one preferred embodiment, the hydrophilic gelling agent is chosen from:

-   -   optionally modified hydroxypropyl guar, in particular         hydroxypropyl guar modified with sodium methylcarboxylate groups         (Jaguar XC97-1, Rhodia) or hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium guar         chloride,     -   anionic associative polymers derived from (meth)acrylic acid,         such as the non-crosslinked copolymer obtained from methacrylic         acid and steareth-20 methacrylate, sold under the name Aculyn 22         by Röhm & Haas,     -   nonionic associative polymers of polyurethane polyether type,         such as Steareth-100/PEG-136/HDI Copolymer sold under the name         Rheolate FX 1100 by Elementis.         Amphoteric Associative Polymers

Among the associative amphoteric polymers of the invention, mention may be made of crosslinked or non-crosslinked, branched or unbranched amphoteric polymers, which may be obtained by copolymerization

1) of at least one monomer of formula (IVa) or (IVb):

in which R₄ and R₅, which may be identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical,

R₆, R₇ and R₈, which may be identical or different, represent a linear or branched alkyl radical containing from 1 to 30 carbon atoms,

Z represents a group NH or an oxygen atom,

n is an integer from 2 to 5,

A⁻ denotes an anion derived from a mineral or organic acid, such as a methosulfate anion or a halide such as chloride or bromide.

in which R₉ and R₁₀, which may be identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical;

Z₁ represents a group OH or a group NHC(CH₃)₂CH₂SO₃H;

3) of at least one monomer of formula (VI):

in which R₉ and R₁₀, which may be identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical, X denotes an oxygen or nitrogen atom and R₁₁ denotes a linear or branched alkyl radical containing from 1 to 30 carbon atoms;

4) optionally at least one crosslinking or branching agent; at least one of the monomers of formula (IVa), (IVb) or (VI) comprising at least one fatty chain containing from 8 to 30 carbon atoms and the said compounds of the monomers of formulae (IVa), (IVb), (V) and (VI) possibly being quaternized, for example with a C₁-C₄ alkyl halide or a C₁-C₄ dialkyl sulfate.

The monomers of formulae (IVa) and (IVb) of the present invention are preferably chosen from the group formed by:

-   -   dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, dimethylaminoethyl acrylate,     -   diethylaminoethyl methacrylate, diethylaminoethyl acrylate,     -   dimethylaminopropyl methacrylate, dimethylaminopropyl acrylate,     -   dimethylaminopropylmethacrylamide or         dimethylaminopropylacrylamide, optionally quaternized, for         example with a C₁-C₄ alkyl halide or a C₁-C₄ dialkyl sulfate.

More particularly, the monomer of formula (IVa) is chosen from acrylamidopropyltrimethylammonium chloride and methacrylamidopropyltrimethylammonium chloride.

The compounds of formula (V) of the present invention are preferably chosen from the group formed by acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid, 2-methylcrotonic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid and 2-methacrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid. More particularly, the monomer of formula (V) is acrylic acid.

The monomers of formula (VI) of the present invention are preferably chosen from the group formed by C₁₂-C₂₂ and more particularly C₁₆-C₁₈ alkyl acrylates or methacrylates.

The crosslinking or branching agent is preferably chosen from N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide, triallylmethylammonium chloride, allyl methacrylate, n-methylolacrylamide, polyethylene glycol dimethacrylates, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, diethylene glycol dimethacrylate, 1,6-hexanediol dimethacrylate and allyl sucrose.

The polymers according to the invention may also contain other monomers such as nonionic monomers and in particular C₁-C₄ alkyl acrylates or methacrylates.

The ratio of the number of cationic charges/anionic charges in these amphoteric polymers is preferably equal to about 1.

The weight-average molecular weights of the associative amphoteric polymers have a weight-average molecular mass of greater than 500, preferably between 10 000 and 10 000 000 and even more preferentially between 100 000 and 8 000 000.

Preferably, the associative amphoteric polymers of the invention contain from 1 mol % to 99 mol %, more preferentially from 20 mol % to 95 mol % and even more preferentially from 25 mol % to 75 mol % of compound(s) of formula (IVa) or (IVb). They also preferably contain from 1 mol % to 80 mol %, more preferentially from 5 mol % to 80 mol % and even more preferentially from 25 mol % to 75 mol % of compound(s) of formula (V). The content of compound(s) of formula (VI) is preferably between 0.1 mol % and 70 mol %, more preferentially between 1 mol % and 50 mol % and even more preferentially between 1 mol % and 10 mol %. The crosslinking or branching agent, when it is present, is preferably between 0.0001 mol % and 1 mol % and even more preferentially between 0.0001 mol % and 0.1 mol %.

Preferably, the mole ratio between the compound(s) of formula (IVa) or (IVb) and the compound(s) of formula (V) ranges from 20/80 to 95/5 and more preferentially from 25/75 to 75/25.

The associative amphoteric polymers according to the invention are described, for example, in patent application WO 98/44012.

The amphoteric polymers that are particularly preferred according to the invention are chosen from acrylic acid/acrylamidopropyltrimethylammonium chloride/stearyl methacrylate copolymers.

Preferably, the hydrophilic gelling agent is chosen from:

-   -   xanthan gum,     -   optionally modified hydroxypropyl guar, in particular         hydroxypropyl guar modified with sodium methylcarboxylate groups         (Jaguar XC97-1, Rhodia) or hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium guar         chloride,     -   anionic associative polymers derived from (meth)acrylic acid,         such as the non-crosslinked copolymer obtained from methacrylic         acid and steareth-20 methacrylate, sold under the name Aculyn 22         by Röhm & Haas,     -   nonionic associative polymers of polyurethane polyether type,         such as Steareth-100/PEG-136/HDI Copolymer sold under the name         Rheolate FX 1100 by Elementis;     -   and mixtures thereof.

The hydrophilic gelling polymer(s), and in particular the associative polymers, may be present in the composition according to the invention in a total active material content ranging from 0.1% to 10% by weight and preferably from 0.5% to 5% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.

It is understood that this amount is moreover liable to vary depending on whether the said polymer is or is not combined with an ionic and/or nonionic surfactant and/or a film-forming agent (other than alkylcellulose and in particular ethylcellulose), which are themselves also capable of acting on the consistency of the said composition.

Active Agents

The composition may also comprise at least one active agent chosen from moisturizers, cicatrizing agents and/or anti-ageing agents, for the skin and/or the lips, and in particular the lips.

According to this embodiment, the invention also relates to a process for caring for the skin and/or the lips, and in particular the lips, comprising the application of a composition according to the invention to the skin and/or the lips.

Since the deposit made with a composition according to the invention has good wear properties, this ensures the remanence of the active agent on the skin and/or the lips and thus improves the care efficacy (moisturizing, cicatrizing and/or anti-ageing effect) on the skin and/or the lips.

Moisturizers:

According to a first embodiment, the composition also comprises at least one moisturizer (also known as a humectant).

Moisturizers or humectants that may especially be mentioned include sorbitol, polyhydric alcohols, preferably of C₂-C₈ and more preferably C₃-C₆, preferably such as glycerol, propylene glycol, tripropylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, dipropylene glycol and diglycerol, and mixtures thereof, glycerol and derivatives thereof, urea and derivatives thereof, especially Hydrovance® (2-hydroxyethylurea) sold by National Starch, lactic acids, hyaluronic acid, AHAs, BHAs, sodium pidolate, xylitol, serine, sodium lactate, ectoin and derivatives thereof, chitosan and derivatives thereof, collagen, plankton, an extract of Imperata cylindra sold under the name Moist 24® by the company Sederma, acrylic acid homopolymers, for instance Lipidure-HM® from NOF Corporation, β-glucan and in particular sodium carboxymethyl β-glucan from Mibelle-AG-Biochemistry; a mixture of passionflower oil, apricot oil, corn oil and rice bran oil sold by Nestlé under the name NutraLipids®; a C-glycoside derivative such as those described in patent application WO 02/051 828 and in particular C-β-D-xylopyranoside-2-hydroxypropane in the form of a solution containing 30% by weight of active material in a water/propylene glycol mixture (60/40% by weight) such as the product manufactured by Chimex under the trade name Mexoryl SBB®; an oil of musk rose sold by Nestlé; an extract of the microalga Prophyridium cruentum enriched with zinc, sold by Vincience under the name Algualane Zinc®; spheres of collagen and of chondroitin sulfate of marine origin (Ateocollagen) sold by the company Engelhard Lyon under the name Marine Filling Spheres; hyaluronic acid spheres such as those sold by the company Engelhard Lyon; and arginine.

Use will preferably be made of a moisturizer chosen from glycerol, urea and derivatives thereof, especially Hydrovance® sold by National Starch, hyaluronic acid, AHAs, BHAs, acrylic acid homopolymers, for instance Lipidure-HM® from NOF Corporation, β-glucan and in particular sodium carboxymethyl β-glucan from Mibelle-AG-Biochemistry; a mixture of passion flower oil, apricot oil, corn oil and rice bran oil sold by Nestlé under the name NutraLipids®; a C-glycoside derivative such as those described in patent application WO 02/051 828 and in particular C-β-D-xylopyranoside-2-hydroxypropane in the form of a solution containing 30% by weight of active material in a water/propylene glycol mixture (60/40% by weight) such as the product sold by Chimex under the trade name Mexoryl SBB®; an oil of musk rose sold by Nestlé; an extract of the microalga Prophyridium cruentum enriched with zinc, sold by Vincience under the name Algualane Zinc®; spheres of collagen and of chondroitin sulfate of marine origin (Ateocollagen) sold by the company Engelhard Lyon under the name Marine Filling Spheres; hyaluronic acid spheres such as those sold by the company Engelhard Lyon; and arginine.

Cicatrizing Agents

The active agent may also be chosen from cicatrizing agents.

Examples of cicatrizing agents that may especially be mentioned include: allantoin, urea, certain amino acids, for instance hydroxyproline, arginine, and serine, and also extracts of white lily (for instance Phytèléne Lys 37EG 16295 from Indena), a yeast extract, for instance the cicatrizing agent LS LO/7225B from Laboratoires Serobiologiques) (Cognis), tamanu oil, extract of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, for instance Biodynes® TRF® from Arch Chemical, oat extracts, chitosan and derivatives, for instance chitosan glutamate, carrot extracts, artemia extract, for instance GP4G® from Vincience, sodium acexamate, lavandin extracts, propolis extracts, ximeninic acid and salts thereof, rose hip oil, marigold extracts, for instance Souci Ami® Liposolible from Alban Muller, horsetail extracts, lemon peel extracts, for instance Herbasol® citron from Cosmetochem, helichrysum extracts, common yarrow extracts, folic acid, β-glucan derivatives, shea butter and purified fractions thereof, modified exopolysaccharides and alkylsulfone polyaminosaccharides.

Anti-Ageing Agents

The active agent may also be chosen from anti-ageing agents, i.e. agents especially having a restructuring effect on the skin barrier, anti-glycation agents, active agents that stimulate the energy metabolism of cells, and mixtures thereof.

The agent with a restructuring effect on the skin barrier may be chosen from an extract of Thermus thermophilus such as Vénucéane® from Sederma, an extract of the rhizome of wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) such as Actigen Y® from Active Organics, plankton extracts, for instance Omega Plankton® from Secma, yeast extracts, for instance Relipidium® from Coletica, a chestnut extract such as Recoverine® from Silab, a cedar bud extract such as Gatuline Zen® from Gattefossé, sphingosines, for instance salicyloyl sphingosine sold under the name Phytosphingosine® SLC by the company Degussa, a mixture of xylitol, polyxylityl glycoside and xylitan, for instance Aquaxyl® from SEPPIC, extracts of Solanacea plants, for instance Lipidessence® from Coletica, and mixtures thereof.

Mention may also be made especially of ceramides, sphingoid-based compounds, glycosphingolipids, phospholipids, cholesterol and derivatives thereof, phytosterols, essential fatty acids, diacylglycerol, 4-chromanone and chromone derivatives, and mixtures thereof.

As preferred agents having a restructuring effect on the skin barrier function, mention will be made of an extract of Thermus thermophilus, an extract of the rhizome of wild yam (Dioscorea villosa), a yeast extract, a chestnut extract, a cedar bud extract, and mixtures thereof.

The term “anti-glycation agent” means a compound that prevents and/or reduces the glycation of skin proteins, in particular dermal proteins such as collagen.

Examples of anti-glycation agents include extracts of plants of the Ericacea family, such as an extract of blueberry (Vaccinium angustifo hum), for example the product sold under the name Blueberry Herbasol Extract PG by the company Cosmetochem, ergothioneine and derivatives thereof, hydroxystilbenes and derivatives thereof, such as resveratrol and 3,3′,5,5′-tetrahydroxystilbene (these anti-glycation agents are described in patent applications FR 2 802 425, FR 2 810 548, FR 2 796 278 and FR 2 802 420, respectively), dihydroxystilbenes and derivatives thereof, polypeptides of arginine and of lysine such as the product sold under the name Amadorine® by the company Solabia, carcinine hydrochloride (sold by Exsymol under the name Alistin®), an extract of Helianthus annuus, for instance Antiglyskin® from Silab, wine extracts such as the extract of powdered white wine on a maltodextrin support sold under the name Vin blanc déshydraté2F by the company Givaudan, thioctic acid (or α-lipoic acid), a mixture of extract of bearberry and of marine glycogen, for instance Aglycal LS 8777® from Laboratoires Sérobiologiques, and an extract of black tea, for instance Kombuchka® from Sederma, and mixtures thereof.

The active agent for stimulating the energy metabolism of cells may be chosen, for example, from biotin, an extract of Saccharomyces cerevisiae such as Phosphovital® from Sederma, the mixture of sodium, manganese, zinc and magnesium salts of pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid, for instance Physiogenyl® from Solabia, a mixture of zinc, copper and magnesium gluconate, such as Sepitonic M3® from SEPPIC, and mixtures thereof.

The active agents used in the compositions according to the invention may be hydrophilic or lipophilic.

Preferably, the composition comprises at least one hydrophilic active agent, chosen from moisturizers, cicatrizing agents and anti-ageing agents.

Specifically, since the composition according to the invention comprises water, this water lends itself particularly to the introduction of hydrophilic active agents into the composition, in particular without any problem of stability of the composition and/or of the active agent. This is particularly interesting, in particular in the context of lipcare. Specifically, the standard lipstick compositions known in the prior art, whether they are solid or liquid, rarely comprise water, and, if they do contain any, they are generally unstable over time (i.e. they undergo phase separation or exudation).

Preferably, the active agent is chosen from: polyhydric alcohols, preferably of C₂-C₈ and more preferably of C₃-C₆, preferably such as glycerol, propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diglycerol, and a mixture thereof, hyaluronic acid, AHAs, BHAs, serine, collagen, a C-glycoside derivative and in particular C-β-D-xylopyranoside-2-hydroxypropane in the form of a solution containing 30% by weight of active material in a water/propylene glycol mixture (60/40 wt %); spheres of collagen and of chondroitin sulfate of marine origin (Ateocollagen), hyaluronic acid spheres; ceramides, preferably such as ceramide V.

Preferably, the active material content of the composition ranges from 0.001% to 30% by weight, preferably from 0.01% to 20% by weight, better still from 0.01% to 10% by weight, better still from 0.01% to 5% by weight and even better still from 0.05% to 1% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.

A composition according to the invention may also comprise any additional component usually used in cosmetics, such as dyestuffs, fillers or cosmetic active agents.

Needless to say, a person skilled in the art will take care to select the optional additional compounds and/or the amount thereof such that the advantageous properties of the composition used according to the invention are not, or are not substantially, adversely affected by the envisaged addition.

Colorants

A composition in accordance with the present invention may comprise at least one dyestuff, which may be chosen from water-soluble or water-insoluble, liposoluble or non-liposoluble, organic or mineral dyestuffs, and materials with an optical effect, and mixtures thereof.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term “dyestuff” means a compound that is capable of producing a coloured optical effect when it is formulated in sufficient amount in a suitable cosmetic medium.

Preferably, the composition according to the invention comprises at least one dyestuff, chosen especially from pigments, nacres, and liposoluble and water-soluble dyes, and mixtures thereof.

According to one preferred embodiment, a composition according to the invention comprises at least one water-soluble dyestuff.

The water-soluble dyestuffs used according to the invention are more particularly water-soluble dyes.

For the purposes of the invention, the term “water-soluble dye” means any natural or synthetic, generally organic compound, which is soluble in an aqueous phase or water-miscible solvents and which is capable of colouring. In particular, the term “water-soluble” means the capacity of a compound to be dissolved in water, measured at 25° C., to a concentration at least equal to 0.1 g/l (production of a macroscopically isotropic, transparent, coloured or colourless solution). This solubility is in particular greater than or equal to 1 g/l.

As water-soluble dyes that are suitable for use in the invention, mention may be made especially of synthetic or natural water-soluble dyes, for instance FDC Red 4 (CI: 14700), DC Red 6 (Lithol Rubine Na; CI: 15850), DC Red 22 (CI: 45380), DC Red 28 (CI: 45410 Na salt), DC Red 30 (CI: 73360), DC Red 33 (CI: 17200), DC Orange 4 (CI: 15510), FDC Yellow 5 (CI: 19140), FDC Yellow 6 (CI: 15985), DC Yellow 8 (CI: 45350 Na salt), FDC Green 3 (CI: 42053), DC Green 5 (CI: 61570), FDC Blue 1 (CI: 42090).

As non-limiting illustrations of sources of water-soluble dyestuffs that may be used in the context of the present invention, mention may be made especially of those of natural origin, such as extracts of cochineal carmine, of beetroot, of grape, of carrot, of tomato, of annatto, of paprika, of henna, of caramel and of curcumin.

Thus, the water-soluble dyestuffs that are suitable for use in the invention are especially carminic acid, betanin, anthocyans, enocyanins, lycopene, β-carotene, bixin, norbixin, capxanthin, capsorubin, flavoxanthin, lutein, cryptoxanthin, rubixanthin, violaxanthin, riboflavin, rhodoxanthin, cantaxanthin and chlorophyll, and mixtures thereof.

They may also be copper sulfate, iron sulfate, water-soluble sulfopolyesters, rhodamine, methylene blue, the disodium salt of tartrazine and the disodium salt of fuchsin.

Some of these water-soluble dyestuffs are especially permitted for food use. Representatives of these dyes that may be mentioned more particularly include dyes of the carotenoid family, referenced under the food codes E120, E162, E163, E160a-g, E150a, E101, E100, E140 and E141.

According to one preferred variant, the water-soluble dyestuff(s) that are to be transferred onto the skin and/or the lips intended to be made up are formulated in a physiologically acceptable medium so as to be compatible with impregnation into the substrate.

The water-soluble dyestuff(s) may be present in a composition according to the invention in a content ranging from 0.01% to 8% by weight and preferably from 0.1% to 6% by weight relative to the total weight of the said composition.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the water-soluble dyestuff(s) are chosen from the disodium salt of brilliant yellow FCF sold by the company LCW under the name DC Yellow 6, the disodium salt of fuchsin acid D sold by the company LCW under the name DC Red 33, and the trisodium salt of Rouge Allura sold by the company LCW under the name FD & C Red 40.

According to one particular embodiment of the invention, the composition according to the invention comprises only water-soluble dyes as dyestuffs.

According to another embodiment, the composition according to the invention comprises at least one pigment and/or nacre as dyestuff.

According to another embodiment, a composition according to the invention may comprise, besides the water-soluble dyestuffs described previously, one or more additional dyestuffs, especially such as pigments or nacres, conventionally used in cosmetic compositions.

The term “pigments” should be understood as meaning white or coloured, inorganic (mineral) or organic particles, which are insoluble in the liquid organic phase, and which are intended to colour and/or opacify the composition and/or the deposit produced with the composition.

The pigments may be chosen from mineral pigments, organic pigments and composite pigments (i.e. pigments based on mineral and/or organic materials).

The pigments may be chosen from monochromatic pigments, lakes, nacres, and pigments with an optical effect, for instance reflective pigments and goniochromatic pigments.

The mineral pigments may be chosen from metal oxide pigments, chromium oxides, iron oxides, titanium dioxide, zinc oxides, cerium oxides, zirconium oxides, manganese violet, Prussian blue, ultramarine blue and ferric blue, and mixtures thereof.

The organic pigments may be, for example:

-   -   cochineal carmine,     -   organic pigments of azo dyes, anthraquinone dyes, indigoid dyes,         xanthene dyes, pyrene dyes, quinoline dyes, triphenylmethane         dyes and fluorane dyes;     -   organic lakes or insoluble sodium, potassium, calcium, barium,         aluminium, zirconium, strontium or titanium salts of acidic dyes         such as azo, anthraquinone, indigoid, xanthene, pyrene,         quinoline, triphenylmethane or fluorane dyes. These dyes         generally comprise at least one carboxylic or sulfonic acid         group;     -   melanin-based pigments.

Among the organic pigments, mention may be made of D&C Blue No. 4, D&C Brown No. 1, D&C Green No. 5, D&C Green No. 6, D&C Orange No. 4, D&C Orange No. 5, D&C Orange No. 10, D&C Orange No. 11, D&C Red No. 6, D&C Red No. 7, D&C Red No. 17, D&C Red No. 21, D&C Red No. 22, D&C Red No. 27, D&C Red No. 28, D&C Red No. 30, D&C Red No. 31, D&C Red No. 33, D&C Red No. 34, D&C Red No. 36, D&C Violet No. 2, D&C Yellow No. 7, D&C Yellow No. 8, D&C Yellow No. 10, D&C Yellow No. 11, FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5 and FD&C Yellow No. 6.

The hydrophobic treatment agent may be chosen from silicones such as methicones, dimethicones and perfluoroalkylsilanes; fatty acids such as stearic acid; metal soaps such as aluminium dimyristate, the aluminium salt of hydrogenated tallow glutamate, perfluoroalkyl phosphates, perfluoroalkylsilanes, perfluoroalkylsilazanes, polyhexafluoropropylene oxides, polyorganosiloxanes comprising perfluoroalkyl perfluoropolyether groups, amino acids, N-acylamino acids or salts thereof; lecithin, isopropyl triisostearyl titanate, and mixtures thereof.

The N-acylamino acids may comprise an acyl group containing from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, for instance a 2-ethylhexanoyl, caproyl, lauroyl, myristoyl, palmitoyl, stearoyl or cocoyl group. The salts of these compounds may be aluminium, magnesium, calcium, zirconium, zinc, sodium or potassium salts. The amino acid may be, for example, lysine, glutamic acid or alanine.

The term “alkyl” mentioned in the compounds cited above especially denotes an alkyl group containing from 1 to 30 carbon atoms and preferably containing from 5 to 16 carbon atoms.

Hydrophobic-treated pigments are described especially in patent application EP-A-1 086 683.

For the purposes of the present patent application, the term “nacre” should be understood as meaning coloured particles of any form, which may or may not be iridescent, especially produced by certain molluscs in their shell, or alternatively synthesized, and which have a colour effect via optical interference.

Examples of nacres that may be mentioned include nacreous pigments such as titanium mica coated with an iron oxide, mica coated with bismuth oxychloride, titanium mica coated with chromium oxide, titanium mica coated with an organic dye especially of the abovementioned type, and also nacreous pigments based on bismuth oxychloride. They may also be mica particles at the surface of which are superimposed at least two successive layers of metal oxides and/or of organic colourants.

The nacres may more particularly have a yellow, pink, red, bronze, orange, brown, gold and/or coppery colour or glint.

As illustrations of nacres that may be introduced as interference pigments into the first composition, mention may be made especially of the gold-coloured nacres sold especially by the company Engelhard under the name Brilliant gold 212G (Timica), Gold 222C (Cloisonne), Sparkle gold (Timica), Gold 4504 (Chromalite) and Monarch gold 233× (Cloisonne); the bronze nacres sold especially by the company Merck under the name Bronze fine (17384) (Colorona) and Bronze (17353) (Colorona) and by the company Engelhard under the name Super bronze (Cloisonne); the orange nacres sold especially by the company Engelhard under the name Orange 363C (Cloisonne) and Orange MCR 101 (Cosmica) and by the company Merck under the name Passion orange (Colorona) and Matte orange (17449) (Microna); the brown nacres sold especially by the company Engelhard under the name Nu-antique copper 340XB (Cloisonne) and Brown CL4509 (Chromalite); the nacres with a copper tint sold especially by the company Engelhard under the name Copper 340A (Timica); the nacres with a red tint sold especially by the company Merck under the name Sienna fine (17386) (Colorona); the nacres with a yellow tint sold especially by the company Engelhard under the name Yellow (4502) (Chromalite); the red nacres with a gold tint sold especially by the company Engelhard under the name Sunstone G012 (Gemtone); the pink nacres sold especially by the company Engelhard under the name Tan opale G005 (Gemtone); the black nacres with a gold tint sold especially by the company Engelhard under the name Nu antique bronze 240 AB (Timica), the blue nacres sold especially by the company Merck under the name Matte blue (17433) (Microna), the white nacres with a silvery tint sold especially by the company Merck under the name Xirona Silver, and the golden-green pink-orange nacres sold especially by the company Merck under the name Indian summer (Xirona), and mixtures thereof.

The composition according to the invention may also be free of dyestuff. According to this embodiment, the composition may be a care composition, preferably for the skin or the lips.

According to this embodiment, the composition according to the invention may advantageously be a lip balm.

Fillers

A cosmetic composition used according to the invention may also comprise at least one filler, of organic or mineral nature.

The term “filler” should be understood to mean colourless or white solid particles of any shape which are in a form that is insoluble and dispersed in the medium of the composition. These particles, of mineral or organic nature, can give body or rigidity to the composition and/or softness and uniformity to the makeup. They are different from dyestuffs.

Among the fillers that may be used in the compositions according to the invention, mention may be made of silica, kaolin, bentone, starch, lauroyllysine, and fumed silica particles, optionally hydrophilic- or hydrophobic-treated, and mixtures thereof.

A composition used according to the invention may comprise one or more fillers in a content ranging from 0.1% to 15% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition and in particular from 1% to 10% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.

Preferably, a composition according to the invention comprises at least one compound chosen from fillers, waxes, pasty fatty substances, semi-crystalline polymers and/or lipophilic gelling agents, and mixtures thereof.

Usual Additional Cosmetic Ingredients

A composition used according to the invention may also comprise any usual cosmetic ingredient, which may be chosen especially from antioxidants, additional film-forming polymers (lipophilic or hydrophilic) other than alkylcellulose and in particular ethylcellulose, fragrances, preserving agents, neutralizers, sunscreens, sweeteners, vitamins, free-radical scavengers and sequestrants, and mixtures thereof.

Needless to say, a person skilled in the art will take care to select the optional additional ingredients and/or the amount thereof such that the advantageous properties of the composition according to the invention are not, or are not substantially, adversely affected by the envisaged addition.

A composition according to the invention may more particularly be a composition for making up and/or caring for the skin and/or the lips, in particular the lips.

A composition according to the invention may constitute a lipstick for the lips, a body makeup product, a facial or body care product or an antisun product.

The composition of the invention may be in solid form or in the form of a more or less thick paste. As illustrations of solid formulations, mention may be made especially of lip balms and lipsticks. They may be in stick form, in a jar or cast in a dish.

By way of illustration, the compositions in the form of a paste (or a butter) may be cast in a jar or in a dish. In the present patent application, the composition will be referred to indiscriminantly as a butter or a paste, or alternatively a cream when the composition is more fluid.

According to one particularly preferred embodiment, the composition according to the invention is an oil-in-water emulsion.

The composition according to the invention may be manufactured via the known processes generally used in cosmetics or dermatology.

As stated previously, the composition according to the invention is homogeneous and gives access to a deposit that has good cosmetic properties, in particular in terms of gloss, comfort (soft, light deposit) and absence of tackiness.

The present invention will be understood more clearly by means of the examples that follow.

These examples are given as illustrations of the invention and cannot be interpreted as limiting its scope.

Examples 1 and 2: Lipsticks in the Form of Butters

The following lipstick compositions were prepared. Compositions 1 and 2 according to the invention comprise water, ethylcellulose, a first non-volatile hydrocarbon-based oil (octyldodecanol), a second non-volatile silicone oil (Belsil 1000), and also a wax and a gemini surfactant.

Example 1 Example 2 according to according to Compounds (Chemical the invention the invention Name/Commercial Reference) (weight %) (weight %) Ethylcellulose at 26.2% in water; sodium 25 25 lauryl sulfate (1.3%) and cetyl alcohol (2.5%) Aquacoat ECD 30 from FMC Biopolymer Octyldodecanol 25 25 Trimethylsiloxyphenyl Dimethicone 19 19 (Belsil PDM 1000 from Wacker) Behenyl alcohol (and) glyceryl stearate 3 3 (and) disodium ethylene dicocamide PEG- 15 disulfate (and) glyceryl stearate citrate (Ceralution H from Sasol) Steareth-20 (Brij S20-PA-(SG) from the 1 1 company Croda) Steareth-100/PEG-136/HDI Copolymer 0.2 (Rheolate FX 1100 from Elementis) Polymethylene wax (Cirebelle 303 from 3 3 Cirebelle) Polymethylene wax (Cirebelle 505 from 6 6 Cirebelle) Hydroxypropyl guar (Jaguar HP 105 from 0.2 0.2 Rhodia) Cetyl alcohol 4 4 Phenoxyethanol 0.5 0.5 Blue 1 0.005 0.005 Red 33 0.05 0.05 Red 40 0.1 0.1 Water qs 100 qs 100 Total: 100 100 Preparation Protocol:

-   -   1) The fatty phase (the wax) was heated to 75° C. in the phenyl         silicone oil in a heating pan.     -   2) The surfactant Ceralution H was added and the mixture was         stirred at 60° C. until homogeneous.     -   3) The ethylcellulose and the octyldodecanol were poured into a         beaker. The mixture was then stirred using a Rayneri-type         deflocculator for 1 hour at 55° C., followed by addition of the         water, the Steareth-20, the thickeners, the preserving agent and         the dyes, and the mixture was stirred with the Rayneri         deflocculator at 55° C. until a homogeneous mixture was         obtained.     -   4) This mixture was then poured into the fatty phase and stirred         (Rayneri deflocculator) until a homogeneous mixture was         obtained.     -   5) It was finally cast into jars 3.3 cm in diameter. The jars         were then left to cool to room temperature.         After 24 hours at room temperature, the compositions obtained         were evaluated and their viscosity was measured according to the         protocol described previously.         The stability of the compositions was evaluated by placing the         compositions obtained for 72 hours at 24° C. and for 72 hours at         45° C. The compositions were especially checked to see if phase         separation, the formation of grains or collapse was observed in         the case of solid compositions, or if a variation in viscosity         was observed in the case of compositions in butter form.

Example 1 According Example 2 Evaluation of the to the According to the Compositions invention invention Appearance of the The composition is The composition is uniform composition uniform and stable at and stable at 24° C. and at 24° C. and at 45° C. 45° C. Form of the Butter in a jar Butter in a jar 33 mm in composition 33 mm in diameter diameter Viscosity of the 3.8 Pa · s 4.5 Pa · s composition (Pa · s)

Compositions 1 and 2 according to the invention produced a lipstick in the form of a lip butter. The compositions obtained are homogeneous.

Each of the compositions was applied to the lips using an applicator of foam gloss type so as to form a deposit of uniform thickness; the ease of application and the appearance of the deposit were evaluated. Furthermore, the tacky nature of the deposit was evaluated during drying of the formulation after 2 minutes at room temperature (25° C.). To do this, a finger was applied, after the specified drying time, onto the applied formula and the tack was assessed by the person on removal of his finger from the applied formulation.

For compositions 1 and 2 according to the invention, the application to the lips is easy (glidant on application and soft composition). The deposits obtained are homogeneous, light and fresh. Furthermore, the deposits obtained are sparingly tacky, do not migrate and are satisfactorily glossy. The deposits obtained on the lips give a fresh sensation.

Example 3: Solid Lipstick

The following lipstick composition according to the invention was prepared. Composition 3 according to the invention comprises water, ethylcellulose, a first non-volatile hydrocarbon-based oil (octyldodecanol), a second non-volatile silicone oil (Belsil 1000), and also a wax and a gemini surfactant.

Example 3 according to the invention Compounds (Chemical Name/Commercial Reference) (weight %) Ethylcellulose at 26.2% in water; sodium lauryl sulfate 22 (1.3%) and cetyl alcohol (2.5%) Aquacoat ECD 30 from FMC Biopolymer Octyldodecanol 22 Steareth-20 (Brij S20-PA-(SG) from the company 1 Croda) Cetyl alcohol 4 Behenyl alcohol (and) glyceryl stearate (and) disodium 6 ethylene dicocamide PEG-15 disulfate (and) glyceryl stearate citrate (Ceralution H from Sasol) Polymethylene wax (Cirebelle 303 from Cirebelle) 10 Trimethylsiloxyphenyl Dimethicone (Belsil PDM 1000 19 from Wacker) Candelilla wax (Candelilla Wax SP 75 G from Strahl & 2 Pitsch) Bis-PEG-18 methyl ether dimethyl silane (Dow Corning 3 2501 Cosmetic Wax from Dow Corning) Phenoxyethanol 0.5 Water qs 100 Red 7 5 TOTAL: 100 Composition 3 was obtained according to the following protocol:

-   -   1) The pigments were ground in the phenyl silicone oil.     -   2) The fatty phase (the waxes, the Ceralution H, the cetyl         alcohol and the phenoxyethanol) were heated to 90° C. in the         pigmented phenyl silicone oil in a heating pan. The mixture was         stirred until homogeneous. It was then left to cool to 65° C.     -   3) The ethylcellulose and the octyldodecanol were placed in a         beaker. They were then stirred with a Rayneri-type deflocculator         for 1 hour at 55° C., followed by addition of the water and the         Steareth-20, and the mixture was stirred with the Rayneri         deflocculator for 10 minutes.     -   4) This mixture was then poured into the fatty phase and stirred         (Rayneri deflocculator) for 10 minutes.     -   5) Finally, the phenoxyethanol was added with stirring.     -   6) The product was finally poured into a mould preheated to 42°         C., to obtain sticks 12.7 mm in diameter. The moulds were then         left to stand for 10 minutes at room temperature, and then         placed in a freezer at −26° C. until they reached a temperature         of 4° C.     -   7) The sticks were then removed from the mould.         After 24 hours at room temperature, the composition obtained was         evaluated and its stability and hardness were measured according         to the protocol described previously.

Example 3 Evaluation of the According to the invention Composition with candelilla wax Appearance of the composition The composition is homogeneous and stable at 24° C. and at 45° C. Form of the composition Stick 12.7 mm in diameter Hardness of the composition (Nm⁻¹) 51 Nm⁻¹

Composition 3 according to the invention made it possible to obtain a stick of lipstick. The composition obtained is homogeneous, and the sticks obtained are solid enough not to break when they are applied to the lips.

Furthermore, the stick is easy to apply to the lips (glidant on application and soft on application). The deposit obtained is homogeneous, soft and fresh. Furthermore, the deposit on the lips is glossy and sparingly tacky. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A cosmetic composition comprising, in a physiologically acceptable medium: water; ethylcellulose; a first hydrocarbon-based non-volatile oil that is a C₁₀ to C₂₆ alcohol; a second non-volatile oil that is a phenyl silicone; a wax; and a gemini surfactant defined by the following formula

wherein m+n has an average value 15 and RCO— represents coconut acid radical, wherein the composition does not comprise a semi-crystalline polymer, wherein the composition is a form of an oil-in-water emulsion.
 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the gemini surfactant is present in a content ranging from 0.1% to 20% by weight relative to a total weight of the composition.
 3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the gemini surfactant is mixed with (a) a C₆-C₂₂ fatty acid ester of glycerol, (b) a diester of a C₆-C₂₂ fatty acid and of citric acid and of glycerol, or (c) a C₁₀-C₃₀ fatty alcohol.
 4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the ethylcellulose is present in a content of 1% to 60% by weight, relative to a total weight of the composition.
 5. The composition of claim 1, comprising a content ranging from 5% to 75% by weight of the second non-volatile oil by weight, relative to a total weight of the composition.
 6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the first hydrocarbon-based non-volatile oil is present in a content ranging from 5% to 75% by weight relative to a total weight of the compositor.
 7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the first hydrocarbon based non-volatile oil and the ethylcellulose are present in the composition in a weight ratio of oil to ethylcellulose of 0.5 to
 20. 8. The composition of claim 1, comprising from 2% to 80% by weight of water, relative to a total weight of the composition.
 9. The composition of claim 1, comprising: 4% to 30% by weight of the ethylcellulose, 15% to 50% by weight of water, and 35% to 75% by weight of non-volatile oils.
 10. The composition of claim 1, further comprising an additional surfactant other than the gemini surfactant.
 11. The composition of claim 10, wherein the additional surfactant is oxyalkylenated alcohol.
 12. The composition of claim 1, further comprising a dyestuff.
 13. The composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of a hydrophilic gelling agent, a filler, a wax, a pasty fatty substance, and a lipophilic gelling agent.
 14. The composition of claim 1, in a form of a paste or a stick.
 15. The composition of claim 1, in a form of a lipstick or a lip balm.
 16. A cosmetic process comprising applying to the skin and/or the lips the composition of claim
 1. 17. The composition of claim 1, which has a homogeneous texture, does not have any lumps and is stable at 24° C. and at 45° C.
 18. The composition of claim 1, which is homogeneous, stable with no exudation or phase separation and produces a uniform, soft, fresh deposit that is non-migrating and non-tacky or sparingly tacky, and glossy.
 19. The composition of claim 1, wherein the gemini surfactant is present in an amount of from 0.1% to 3% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition; the ethylcellulose is present in an amount of 5% and 20% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition; the first non-volatile hydrocarbon-based oil is present in an amount of from 20% to 45% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition and the total amount of non-volatile oils is from 35 to 75% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition. 